BackgroundRamadan fasting is a major challenge for exercising Muslims especially in warm seasons. There is some evidence to indicate that Ramadan fasting causes higher subjective ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) in fasting Muslims. The mechanisms of this phenomenon are not known exactly. The role of respiratory muscle strength in this regard has not been studied yet.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was investigation of the effects of Ramadan fasting on respiratory muscle strength.Patients and MethodsIn a before-after study, from 35 fasting, apparently healthy, male adults who had fasted from the beginning of Ramadan, maximal inspiratory muscle pressure (MIP) and peak inspiratory flow (PIF) were measured in the last week of Ramadan month in summer. At the time of test, there was not any sleep problem in participants and all of them had good cooperation. Three months later, after exclusion of incompatible persons mainly because of change in their physical activity level, smoking behavior or drug consumption, the measurements were repeated in 12 individuals.ResultsWeight, MIP and PIF data had normal distribution (Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test). There was a significant increase in MIP (mean 8.3 cm H2O with 95% confidence interval of 2.2 - 14.3) and PIF (mean 0.55 lit/s with 95% confidence interval of 0.02 - 1.07) and weight (mean 3.4 Kg with 95% confidence interval of 2.2 - 4.5) after Ramadan (Paired t test with P < 0.05). When weight difference was used as a covariate in repeated measure ANOVA test, there was no further significant difference between MIP and PIF measurements.ConclusionsRamadan fasting may cause reduction of respiratory muscle strength through reduction of body weight.
Background: The incidence of smuggling and illegal transport of substances by internal concealment, also known as body packing, is increasing. The clinical approach to body packers has changed significantly over the past two decades. In addition, the mortality of body packers is an important issue in patient management. The purpose of the current study is to determine the statistics and mortality related to body packing. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, all body packer patients who referred to Loghman Hakim hospital were evaluated from 2010 to 2017. Demographic characteristics, findings of clinical imaging, treatment, and outcome of the patients were recorded. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 21. Results: A total of 303 patients were enrolled in the study after the diagnosis of body packing by abdominal CT scanning without contrast. Conservative treatment including whole bowel irrigation (WBI) accompanied by close monitoring was done for 78% (n = 236) of patients; moreover, 26 patients (8.5%) underwent surgery after WBI, and 41 patients (13.5%) underwent surgery without bowel irrigation. Mortality was observed in eight patients (2.7%) five of whom (62.5%) died before surgery and had the clinical manifestation of crystal (methamphetamine) and cannabis toxicity. Furthermore, three patients (37.5%) died due to the complications of surgery such as gastrointestinal leakage of an abdominal abscess. Conclusion: Conservative treatment seems to be better for the management of body packers. In addition, it is necessary to monitor patients for possible signs and symptoms of intoxication and gastrointestinal obstruction.
Objectives. The purpose of the present study was to systematically evaluate the scientific evidence about the impact of pre-competition sexual activity on athletic performance. Methods. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement, PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, Cochrane Library, ProQuest, Physiotherapy Evidence Database(PEDro), and Google Scholar searches were performed with appropriate keywords without time and language restrictions for studies evaluating the impact of sexual activity on athletic performance. The titles and abstracts were reviewed by two independent reviewers. The methodological quality of the studies and the risk of bias were checked using the quality assessment tool of the Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP). Results. We found that most studies on this topic had low methodological quality. Out of the456 articles retrieved in the search, only seven met the inclusion criteria of the review. In four of these studies, sexual activity10-12 hours before competition did not alter short-term physiological testing results including maximum-effort grip strength test, hamstring flexibility, reaction time, aerobic power (stair-climbing exercise), VO 2max (treadmill and cycle ergometer test), sub-maximal graded-exercise test, muscular endurance, oxygen pulse, double product, testosterone, cortisol, blood glucose concentrations, and mental concentration. In one study, significantly higher differences were reported for post-maximal stress test heart rate at 5 and 10 minutes during two hours of recovery period after sexual intercourse, which disappeared when a maximal stress test was performed 10 hours after sexual activity. In another study immediately after sexual intercourse, 40% of long-distance athletes had difficulty during intensive loading, while in 90% of the addressed athletes, sexual activity 12 hours before the endurance test did not have an influence on performance. Conclusion. Based on mainly low-quality and heterogeneously designed studies, it can be concluded that having sex at least 10-12 hours before athletic events does not negatively influence physiological test results and possibly athletic performance. However, having sex immediately or a few hours before a competition has negative psychological or physiological effects on athletic performance.
Context: Leishmaniasis is one of the most common parasitic diseases. Many medicinal plants have been utilized for the treatment of leishmaniasis. Evidence Acquisition: Recent clinical trials have proven the efficacy of a number of herbal drugs. Synthetic agents and current drugs on the market have some disadvantages, such as side effects, high cost, and painful injections. Given the efficiency of herbal drugs, they can be a source of natural and harmless compounds for Leishmania treatment. Results: Several researches have shown a wide range of plant extract exhibiting remarkable anti-leishmanial activity in vitro and in vivo. Conclusions: Attempts for discovery of an effective strategy for leishmaniasis treatment with nominal side effects are being continued and herbal drugs are receiving much interest. More clinical studies should be done to investigate the efficacy and safety of herbal drugs for the production of effective and safe drugs for leishmaniasis treatment. This may also provide new hope for leishmaniasis treatment.
Background & objectives: Menopause is associated with many annoying symptoms of estrogen deficiency. These symptoms affect women's health and quality of life during this period. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between regular exercise and menopausal symptoms in postmenopausal women in Tuyserkan in 2018. Methods: The present study is a descriptive study recruiting 90 postmenopausal women with health records in two health centers in Tuyserkan. The reserarch instruments used were Greene Climacteric Symptoms Scale, and a 19-item demographic information questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS and the Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Analysis of variance. Results:The overall score of severity of menopausal symptoms was 28.02±11.43 which showed a significant difference in term of exercise (p<0.001). In other words, women with regular and irregular exercise had fewer symptoms than those without exercise. Conclusion:Regarding the results of this study, it seems that exercise is effective in improving menopausal symptoms in postmenopausal women and it is recommended to use it along with other methods in the prevent and treatment of such symptoms.
Introduction — High mortality and morbidity rate of empyema, despite effective antibiotic therapy, highlights the need to determine the optimal drainage method as a first-line surgical intervention. Controversies behind the treatment choice for empyema encouraged us to conduct this study aimed at demonstrating efficacy and differences of two techniques of clinical approach to empyema, chest tube and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) with respect to outcomes. Material and Methods — We recruited 60 eligible patients with empyema and distributed them among two groups according to applied treatment strategies, either chest tube treatment method (Group I, 30 subjects) or VATS (Group II, 30 patients). Data were statistically analyzed by SPSS software, version 19. Then, the one-sample Kolmogorov–Smirnov test confirmed the normality of data distribution, and independent samples t-test was performed. Statistical significance was assumed at p<0.05. Results — We established that the length of hospital stay (p=0.002), the need for second intervention (p<0.001), and rate of recurrence (readmission) (p=0.001) were significantly lower in patients treated with VATS, compared with patients who were subjected to chest tube drainage. Additionally, patients who underwent VATS exhibited higher satisfaction level (p=0.03) and improved clinical condition at the time of discharge (discharged without chest tube) (p<0.001), than those from Group I. Radiographic examination on postoperative day 7 revealed a higher rate of complete cure (normal lung expansion) in the VATS group (p=0.004). Conclusion — According to the results of our study, VATS is a better treatment technique of empyema, compared with chest tube.
Introduction: Obesity is associated with albuminuria and impaired renal function. Bariatric surgery has been shown to improve and resolve diabetes and improve renal function in patients with morbid obesity. This study investigates the potential effects of sleeve gastrectomy on the improvement of renal function and albuminuria in diabetic and non-diabetic morbidly obese patients and discusses probable mechanisms. Material and methods: This prospective study included, 137 morbidly obese patients (44 diabetics and 93 non-diabetic) who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy who were evaluated clinically (anthropometric measurements) and biochemically before surgery and at 1 year from surgery. Results: Sleeve gastrectomy significantly decreases weight and body mass index, improves glycemic parameters, hyperfiltration, and urinary albumin excretion in diabetic and non-diabetic patients; (P < 0.001). Alterations in C- reactive protein (CRP) levels are strongly associated with ACR decline in diabetic patients. Conclusion: Our findings revealed significant decreases in weight, body mass index, and glycemic parameters after sleeve gastrectomy in diabetic and non-diabetic patients, accompanied by the resolve of hyperfiltration, urinary albumin excretion, and improvement of renal function via reduction of the systemic inflammation.
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