Myocardial infarction (MI) is one of the leading causes of death in the world. Epidemiological studies have shown that dietary flavonoids are inversely related to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The study aimed to determine whether quercetin supplementation can improve inflammatory factors, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and quality of life (QOL) in patients following MI. This randomized double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial was conducted on 88 post‐MI patients. Participants were randomly assigned into quercetin (n = 44) and placebo groups (n = 44) receiving 500 mg/day quercetin or placebo tablets for 8 weeks. Quercetin supplementation significantly increased serum TAC compared to placebo (Difference: 0.24 (0.01) mmol/L and 0.00 (0.00) mmol/L respectively; p < .001). TNF‐α levels significantly decreased in the quercetin group (p = .009); this was not, however, significant compared to the placebo group. As for QOL dimensions, quercetin significantly lowered the scores of insecurity (Difference: −0.66 (12.5) and 0.00 (5.55) respectively; p < .001). No significant changes in IL‐6, hs‐CRP, blood pressure and other QOL dimensions were observed between the two groups. Quercetin supplementation (500 mg/day) in post‐MI patients for 8 weeks significantly elevated TAC and improved the insecurity dimension of QOL, but failed to show any significant effect on inflammatory factors, blood pressure and other QOL dimensions.

BackgroundAtrial septal defect (ASD) is a common congenital heart disease.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to assess the clinical course of ASD, as well as its frequency of spontaneous closure and regression of diameter.MethodsIn a study conducted from 2000 to 2011, 192 consecutive patients with an isolated ASD were followed up regularly with periodic echocardiographic evaluations according to a standardized protocol. The study was conducted in two series of patients: infants and children and adults. Infants were classified into three groups based on ASD diameter: small (≤ 5 mm), medium (6 - 9 mm), and large (> 9 mm). In the same manner, the ASD size in children and adults was categorized into three groups: small (≤ 10), medium (10 - 20 mm), and large (> 20 mm).ResultsThe patients consisted of 76 (39.6%) males and 116 (60.4%) females. The mean age of patients at diagnosis was 16.12 ± 15.66 years (range 1 week - 75 years). The mean follow-up duration was 70 ± 9 months (range: 25 - 119 months). The most prevalent age group was adult patients (> 20 years), and most ASDs were of medium size (1 - 2 cm). The most common complication was mild pulmonary hypertension (31 cases, 16.2%), and Eisenmenger phenomenon was the rarest complication (2 cases, 1%). Overall spontaneous closure of ASD occurred in 42 (21.9%) cases. Spontaneous closure in cases with small defects occurred in 18 of 22 (81%) infants and 24 of 81 children > 1 years of age. Regression of ASD size occurred in 2 (9.5%) infants and 3 (3.7%) children. No spontaneous closure was observed in cases with a defect size > 10 mm, and no spontaneous occlusion was detected in adolescents or adults. Seventy-two percent (n = 139) of patients needed surgical repair or transcatheter closure of the ASD.ConclusionsIt is concluded that atrial septal defects < 6 mm typically close spontaneously, and ASDs measuring 6 - 9 mm may regress in infants and children. An ASD > 1 cm has little chance of spontaneous closure and may need surgical or device closure. ASD diameter and age at diagnosis are the most important predictors of spontaneous closure and the need for possible surgical or device closure.

Findings suggest that changes in patient position may be safer in the early period of postcatheterization bed rest than currently indicated in standard practice protocols. Furthermore, limiting sandbag compression to 1 hour has no measurable effect on the incidence and severity of vascular complications.

BackgroundMedication errors which can cause several medical malfunctions, have been in the spotlight recently. Job satisfaction and fatigue seems to be related to the increase of medication errors in nursing.ObjectiveThis study aimed to determine the correlation between the amount and type of medication errors with job satisfaction and fatigue of nurses working in Shahid Sadoughi hospital in Yazd-Iran.MethodsThis is a descriptive study by a cross-sectional and correlational approach conducted on all the nurses working in an educational hospital who have characteristics of samples. Participants were 170 nurses working in Shahid Sadooghi hospital in Yazd, Iran in 2012. The questionnaires of demographic characteristics, medication administration error and nurses’ job satisfaction and fatigue by purposive sampling were used for gathering data. Validity and reliability were checked for internal consistency and stability. Data were analysed by SPSS version 17 using Pearson correlation coefficient and Independent-samples t-test.ResultsThe findings did not illustrate a significant relationship between job satisfaction and fatigue with medication errors. Among the demographic characteristics, age of nurses was significantly associated with the frequency of medication errors (p=0.037). However, others were not significantly correlated (p>0.05).ConclusionIn spite of the findings, based on no significant statistical relationship between job satisfaction and fatigue with the type and amount of medication errors in nursing, the effect of these variables on medication errors cannot be disregarded; thus further studies in this area are suggested.

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