Background & Objective : Desire for using a contraceptive method depends on individual general attitude and perception about it as well as individual understanding, needs and other people ’ s expectation about using that method . This research is conducted to determine reasons for mothers ’ desire in choosing a specific type of postpartum contraceptive method .

  Methods : This research is a cross- sectional study. The subjects were 384 lactating mothers who referred to Isfahan Health Centers for family planning services for the first time after delivery. The data were collected using questionnaires filled out through interview. Descriptive and inferential statistic methods were used to analyze the data .

  Results : The results indicated that the most commonly used contraceptive method in lactating mothers was coitus interruptus (27.4%). The most common reasons of mothers for selecting this method was its safety (45.3%) and effectiveness (25.1%) .

  Conclusions : Because of the high failure rate of coitus interruptus, health personnel should present proper and enough training to lactating mothers and their husbands about different contraceptive methods. They should also present the application of different contraceptive methods in breast feeding and increase couples ’ ability in making proper decisions as well as choosing safe and suitable contraceptive methods .

 Background & Objective: Carotid baroreflex is the most important system of moment-by-moment control of blood pressure. In the past, in order to test carotid baroreflex, invasive methods were incorporated. In 1975 Eckberg introduced a non-invasive apparatus for testing carotid baroreflex sensitivity . The main objective of the present research was to design and construct a more progressive version of the Eckberg's model apparatus. This apparatus would be able to stimulate cervical baroreceptors through sucking the neck. This device will enable physiologists and pharmacologists to perform many researches about carotid baroreceptors.�

 Methods: In this apparatus advanced electronic and mechanical ciruits apply negative controlled pressure on the carotid sinus and increase the blood pressure. By application of negative pressure in front of neck, it stretches the soft cervical tissues including carotid sinus. One of the major modifications included was using resistant rubber instead of lead sheets for making the neck chamber. The whole system was controlled by a computer, which made our system more advanced as compared to the original model suggested by Eckberg. In order to test the apparatus, 12 young male volunteers received a -30mmHg to -90mmHg neck chamber pressure for 10 seconds. Any changes in cardiac cycles during the suction were being recorded using cardiopen II. So the charges could be evaluated.

 Results: The findings showed that stimulation of carotid baroreceptors increased the length of cardiac cycles abruptly. This increase is significantly different from the baseline( p<0.003) and shows the correct functioning of the equipment.

 Conclusion: The final tests confirmed the capability of the apparatus in stimulating carotid baroreceptors. This device can be used in other universities and research centers.

 Background & Objective: Bell ’ s palsy (BP) is a relatively common disease characterized^�by the sudden onset of facial paralysis. In this disease, the facial muscle is paralyzed and the patient cannot close the eye or control the saliva in the involved side._�The incidence rate of this disease in the world is between 11.5-40.2 cases per 100,000. The cause of this disease is yet to be found. This study is an attempt to investigate the demographic. Characteristics of these patients as well as the environmental factors involved in this disease in Ardabil.

 Methods: In this cross-sectional study which was cauducted in Ardabil province during a 2-year period (2001-2003) all the patients referring to neurology clinics were evaluated by a questionuaire in terms of demographic features and whether they were affected by the disease.

 Results: 140 cases (out of 6550) were affected by Bell ’ s palsy. The incidence rate was high among 20-30 year-olds (17.85%) and was equal among females and males. Incidence of BP was higher in cold seasons. A high incidence was also observed among farmers, who sweat abundantly due to their job nature.

 Conclusions: The results are consistent with hypotheses regarding viral etiologies [e.g., reactivation of herpes simplex] of Bell ’ s palsy and it can be activated by cold exposure. The results also indicated that the disease is more prevalent in cold seasons.

 Background & Objectives: Cardiovascular events are among the most common causes of mortality in patients with end stage renal disease. Caediac biomarkers such as troponins are very sensitive in diagnosing heart problems. Troponin I can be used to diagnose acute cardiovascular problems in hemodialysis patients.

 Methods: In this descriptive-analytical and cross-sectional study the level of troponin I was measured in 39 hemodialysis patients using ELISA method and BUN, Cr and Hb level before hemodialysis. LVH and LVMI were determined by echocardiography. The data were analyzed using SPSS.

 Results: The patients were 52.92 years old on average. 26 patients were male and 13 female. The average of tropnin I was 0.78 μ g/l. There was no meaningful relationship between troponin I and LV MI, age and sex. However, a significant relationship was found between the level of troponin I with EF and diastolic dysfunction (p=0.05).

 Conclusion: Troponin I can be regarded as an indicator of LV dysfunction.

  Background & Objectives: Hypokalemic paralysis is a relatively uncommon syndrome which is potentially dangerous. If it is diagnosed and treated timely, the patients will be saved without any side effects. Various diseases can lead to this syndrome which is characterized with decreasing of serum potassium and acute systemic paralysis. In hypokalemic paralysis, the serum level of potassium reaches to less than 3.5 Mmol/lit. This may be caused by transferrence of K to intracellular department, (periodic hypokalemic paralysis and periodic thyrotoxic paralysis). The aim of this study was to determine sex and age prevalence of these patients as well as other features of the patients suffering from periodic hypokalemic paralysis.

  Methods: 55 patients participated in this prospective, descriptive and cross-sectional study which was conducted from 1999 to 2003. These patients were referred to the neurological department with hypokalemic diagnosis on the basis of laboratory and clinical examinations. The data were collected using a questionnaire. Also the serum level of K was measured. The data were analyzed by SPSS software.

  Results: from 50 patients, 46 (92%) were male and others were female. The patients were in 19-60 age range (Mean=33.16 SD=9.1). Mean serum level of K⁺ was 2.37 Mmol/lit (SD= 0.49) in the first hospitalization. The incidence of hypokalemia increased with aging , but majority of the patients (76%) were in age range 20-40. In 86% of the patients the time of hypokalemia crisis was at night and early morning. 11 patients had a high consumption of rich carbohydrate foods previously and 11 others had consumed corticosteroids. There was relapse of disease in 21 patients. 40 patients had paralysis in 4 extremities and 12 patients in 2 extremities. 4% of the patients were hypertensive and 4 patients were hyperthyroid. EKG was normal in 8 patients but in other cases there were abnormal changes.

  Conclusion: Despite the international references, the incidence ratio of male to female is high but the decreasing of K is more severe in female. Asetazolamide and oral KCL therapy not only decrease the period of hospitalization, but also are more effective in treatment of the disease.

 Background & Objective: As renin-angiotensin system (RAS) activity could affect the severity of oxidative stress and inflammatory markers the effect of enalapril and losartan on these markers in renal transplant recipients (RTRs) with RAS polymorphisms was assessed.

 Methods: After determination of RAS genotypes including angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE I/D), Angiotensinogen (AGT M235T) and angiotensin II type 1 receptor (ATR1 A1166C) by PCR, seventy-six RTRs recruited to four groups randomly: first group (17 patients) and second group (24 patients) were treated with E (E⁺: 10mg/daily) and L (L⁺: 50 mg/daily) alone, respectively. The third group (17 patients as positive control) received E+L (E⁺L⁺: 10mg/daily + 50 mg/daily) and the 4^th group (18 patients as negative control) received no medication (E^-L^-). Hs-CRP and total anti-oxidant (TA) as inflammatory and anti-oxidative markers were measured after 2 months. After 2 weeks as washout period, E group changed to L and vice versa as a cross-over design. They were followed for another 8 weeks and hs-CRP and TA were retested.

 Results: Following up the patients (after 2, 4 months of treatment) in treated groups revealed that hs-CRP and TA levels were significantly decreased and increased (consequently) in E⁺L⁺, L⁺, E⁺ groups (P<0.05). On analyzing the relationship between RAS polymorphisms with baseline hs-CRP and TA levels, CC genotype of ATR1 had lower hs-CRP levels (P=0.04). But none of the RAS polymorphisms could predict the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory response rate to the drugs (P>0.05).

 Conclusion: E and/or L reduce hs-CRP and increase TA regardless of the RAS genotypes.

  Background & Objectives: Neonatal mortality rate is a main indicator of hygienic development and recognition of the mortality causes is the first step for reduction of the mortality rate and promotion of this indicator. Therefore, in this study, the causes of neonatal mortality have been investigated in Ardabil medical university related hospitals.

  Methods: This study is a retrospective, cross-sectional and descriptive-analytical one that has been done on the bases of admission's units and filling the medical record form for all neonates who have been admitted to Alavi and Imam Khomeini hospitals in Ardabil from September 2006 to September 2007. The questions of forms consisted of infant’s sex, birth weight, gestational age, cause and age of death. The data were analyzed by SPSS software with utilizing T- test and Chi-Squares.

  Results: During this study, there were 1881 admissions of which there were 148 deaths (7.86%). The causes of mortality were hyaline membrane disease (HMD) (52.02%), sepsis (14.86%), pneumonia (9.45%), congenital anomaly (12.83%), asphyxia (7.43%) and meconium aspiration (3.37%). Among the dead neonates, 54.72% were male and others were female. There were 550 LBW neonates and 111 deaths in this group result of our study showed that mortality rate in LBW neonates was 20.18%. There were 578 preterm neonates and 122 deaths in this group prevalence of mortality rate in preterm neonates was 21.10%.

  Conclusion: Prematurity and low birth weight are the most important and fixed cases of infant mortality. The most common causes of mortality were hyaline membrane disease and sepsis. Therefore, the prevention of preterm labor for reduction of prematurity and its related complication recommended which may lead to decreased rate of neonatal mortality.

  Background & Objectives : One of the first steps in diagnosis of pleural effusion is distinction between exudative and transudative types. The aim of this study was to assess C – reactive protein (CRP) level as one of the diagnostic marker for differentiation of exudative from transudative pleural effusions.

  Methods : In this descriptive and sectional study, 80 patients with confirmed pleural effusion were assessed. These patients were divided into two groups based on Light´s criteria. Serum and pleural CRP were measured with Latex Agglutination Test.

  Results : Out of 80 patients with pleural effusion 26 were transudative (32.5%) and 54 were exudative (67.5%). In exudative group, 72.2% of cases were CRP positive (1+ to 3+), and in transudative group, only 38.5% of cases were CRP positive (p < 0.05). There was no significant differences between different exudative pleural effusion etiologies (infectious and non infectious, malignant and non malignant and tuberculosis) and the number of CRP positive cases (p > 0.05). The rate of CRP positivity in exudative pleural effusion group was more than transudative group (p < 0.05).

  Conclusion: According to our study it seems that CRP criterion could help in distinction between exudative and transudative types of pleural effusion.

  Background and Objectives: Tobacco usage is one of the most common problems in human societies that, In addition of getting several social, economic and health effects, it can cause respiratory, digestive and bladder cancer, also chromosomal and blood factors changes. Little study has been done about hookah effects on human. The aim of this study was to evaluate pulmonary function tests in hookah users in Ardabil city.

  Materials & Methods: In this case – control study, 133 male subjects which have used hookah 3 times a day for at least 3 years or more, were selected from Coffee house of ARDABIL city and then pulmonary function tests were carried out at least triplicate. For comparison of pulmonary parameters, the same number of healthy subjects without hookah consumption in the same age and socioeconomic status were used and spirometery was done. The data were analyzed with SPSS 11 software program and presented as mean ± SD. Statistical significance was assayed by student’s t-test for unpaired data and the differences were considered to be significant at the p<0.05 level.

  Results: Age range of hookah smokers and normal subjects was 17-78 and 20-82 years old, respectively. Age average of hookah smokers and normal subjects was 44.37 ± 14.9 and 41.54 ± 14.46 years old, respectively .Mean differences of age was not statistically significant. The average of PEF, FEV1%, FEV1, FEF25-75 and FEF 25 in hookah smokers were: 7.73, 83.11%, 3.56, 3.81, 6.32, respectively and in normal subjects was: 8.51, 85.69%, 3.78, 4.35, 7.29 respectively. The mean differences between two groups were statistically significant in each parameter (p < 0.05). In this study, there were 27 (20%) COPD patients in hookah smokers. Ten percent of hookah smokers had FEV1% less than 70.

  Conclusion: The results showed that using hookah disrupts pulmonary function parameters. So as cigarette, using hookah may have devastating effects on respiratory system. Knowing about effects of hookah to people, especially to young is necessary.