Tehran University Medical Journal

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Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory and proliferative skin disease that has a wide distribution throughout the world. The immune system plays a critical role in developing this disease. In this survey, we have studied 50 patients suffering from Psoriasis and 50 control subjects for various immunological factors, simultaneously. Anti-stratum corneum (SC) antibody was evaluated by immunofluorescent technique that showed a high significant level of it in patients (P<0.005). The titer of immunoglobulins (IgG, M, and A) measured by radial-immunodiffusion (RID) method was also higher in normal population. CIC estimated by PEG precipitating technique demonstrated high concentration in patients. TNF, a cytokine with strong performance to induce inflammation, had no significant rising amount in patient sera, but in synovial fluid in Psoriasis arthritis may have higher levels. We discuss that due to immunological findings we consider that Psoriasis is probably as an autoimmune disorder. The prevention, treatment and prognosis of the disease may follow the same procedures as other autoimmune diseases and further investigation will be helpful to achieve the above goal

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Intestinal parasitic infections are found all over the world. With all the progresses made in the last decades which have resulted in reduction of infection and mortality, yet parasitic infections are one of the biggest public health problems in the developing countries. In this research children 2-5 years old of Saveh city were randomly chosen. Intestinal parasitic infections and the effect of medical treatment on the infected cases were assessed. In order to treat the infected cases. Iranian generic drugs were used in which for Giardia infection Metronidazole 87.5% and furazolidone (66.7%) were proved effective. Metronidazole in treatment of Entamoeba histolytica infection (88.2%) and Metronidazole+Paramomycin proved 100% effective. In treatment of children infected with Oxyuris, the two drugs, Metronidazole and Pyrvinium Pamoate were almost 100% effective. Metronidazole in Ascaris infection was about 88.9% effective. Niclosamide in treatment of Hymenolepis nana (100%) and in Tenia saginata were 75% effective. Reinfection after three months in treated children was about 20.9% which was the most prevalent intestinal parasitic infection related to Oxyuris. The successfully treated group had higher average body weight compared to the control group.

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In the present survey all together 670 students were chosen randomly. The rate of goiter prevalence was 46.3% and 55.7% among the students of Ilam and Arkavas, respectively. Goiter prevalence rate among females was higher than in males. Prevalence of giother was significantly different between the two cities, also between females and males in Arkavas and females in two cities (P<0.05). In comparison the females had better physical growth than males. Although there was no significant difference between weight and height as well as socio-economic state in comparison with thyroid size, but physical growth and socioeconomic indicators in Arkavas were lower than in Ilam. There was no significant relationship between the size of thyroid and urinary excretion of iodine. The amount of iodine in drinking water was 3.2 and 0.65 Mic.gr/Lit, respectively. Low level iodine drinking water and protein-energy malnutrition are important factors for prevalence of goiter in two cities. According to our results although the value of urinary iodine is normal but prevalence of goiter rate related to the iodine deficiency is due to the past deficiency.

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The effects of taking snacks on the learning ability and educational achievement of elementary school children in district 18 of Tehran educational organization were examined in the school year 1997-98. Other factors such as grade, nutritional status, breakfast eating habits and snack eating habits in the school were also studied. For this purpose 236 boys were selected by random sampling in 4 different schools. The children were randomly assigned to a group, with a low calorie snack (119 subjects), and a low-calorie control group (117 subjects), and then given 3 cognitive functions tests. The test were repeated after 4 months. The data were collected by questionnaires and included family socio-economic conditions, nutritional status and dietary habit of the children. Also, the grades of the major courses and scores of cognitive tests were collected, and the effects of treatment on the mean grades and scores differences were determined by T-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Our findings are presented as follow: The experimental and control groups were similar in the initial assessment. 7.1% of the students were stunted based on height-for-age classification (NCHS). The intervention led to an increase in tests scores, but the increase was only significant in the case of the short-term memory test (P<0.03). The findings of the study showed that the intervention was effective on short-term memory and since short-term memory function in memorization process and retrieval of subjects form long-term memory and congenitive functions, we can conclude that the food intervention with an energy lower than 10% of recommended dietary needs increases learning ability level of the subjects. Stunting and the habit of eating breakfast were related to educational performance of students. Therefore implementation of such programs in the community, such as food intervention and nutritional education may be effective.

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The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of malnutrition and related factors that may affect the nutritional status of 0 to 59 month old children in the rural areas covered by the Birjand district health network. A total of 626 children were selected by random sampling. Data were collected using a questionnaires and face-to-face interviews with the mothers and by measuring weight and height of te children. The nutritional status of the children determination was based on the z-score (cut-off poing under-2Sd from median reference population). Based on the z-score and under 2-standard deviation from median of NCHS in rural areas of Birjand, 18.5%, 40.1% and 3% of children were suffering from past-and-present, and present, malnutrition, respectively. Therefore the highest prevalence of malnutrition was related to the past-malnutrition and the stunting was the main problem. The chi2 test showed a statistically significant relationship between the children's past malnutrition and fathers litarcy (P<0.001), also between the children's past and present malnutrition and mother's literacy (P<0.021) and past malnutrition (P<0.001). There was also significant relationship between, father's main occupation, per-capita income (P<0.0001, P<0.025 respectively) and children's past malnutrition in the cases under study. In this research, relationship between sex and prevalence of malnutrition in both peresent-past and past malnutrition was meaningful, (P<0.024, P<0.017 respectively). This study did not show a significant relationship between nutritional independent variables and nutritional status of the children.

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Background: Surgical wound infection surveillance is an important facet of hospital infection control processes. There are several surveillance methods for surgical site infections. The objective of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of two different surgical site infection surveillance methods.
Methods: In this prospective cross sectional study 3020 undergoing surgey in general surgical wards of Imam Khomeini hospital were included. Surveillance methods consisted of review of medical records for postoperative fever and review of nursing daily note for prescription of antibiotics postoperatively and during patient’s discharge. Review of patient’s history and daily records and interview with patient’s surgeon and the head-nurse of the ward considered as a gold standard for surveillance.
Results: The postoperative antibiotic consumption especially when considering its duration is a proper method for surgical wound infection surveillance. Accomplishments of a prospective study with postdischarge follow up until 30 days after surgery is recommended.
Conclusion: The result of this study showed that postoperative antibiotic surveillance method specially with consideration of the antibiotic usage duration is a proper method for surgical site infection surveillance in general surgery wards. Accomplishments of a prospective study with post discharge follow up until 30 days after surgery is recommended.

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Background: The effects of population aging are becoming apparent throughout the world. Diseases, such as cardio-vascular disease (CVD) and diabetes, are among the most important factors affecting morbidity and mortality, especially in the elderly. These diseases not only result in huge economic costs for treatment and care, but also results in hardship and time lost for relatives of the afflicted individuals. The association between nutritional status and disease is well known. In the present study, the effects of both under-nutrition and over-nutrition on the prevalence of disease are monitored in an urban Iranian elderly population. Thus far, no similar study has been performed in the Iran.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Isfahan, Iran, during late 2003 on 1694 elderly people (731 males, 963 females), aged 60 years and older. Subjects were randomly chosen from all urban elderly people during a door-to-door and weight and height survey. They were selected using a cluster sampling method, each containing 30 clusters. From each cluster, 58 elderly were selected at random. Using each subjects body mass index (BMI), the nutritional status was categorized as overweight (BMI greater than 25), underweight (BMI less than 19) and normal (having a BMI equal to or more than 19 and equal to or less than 25). Any illnesses known to each subject were also recorded.
Results: Results showed that 4.7% of the subjects were underweight and 61.2% overweight. Women were more likely to be overweight and long periods of watching television increased the risk of overweight in all subjects. Being overweight was associated with diabetes and coronary vascular diseases, and lean people were less likely to suffer from such diseases.
Conclusion: This study indicates a high prevalence of overweight among the Iranian elderly population, indicating the need for improvement in nutritional status in order to reduce the prevalence of diabetes and CVD.

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Background: Post-menopausal hemorrhage is one of the most common complains in gynecologic clinics. More than 60% of these cases have abnormal findings in diagnostic work ups. There is contraversy about the best diagnostic method for evaluating post-menopausal hemorrhage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of Trans-Vaginal Ultrasonography and compare its result to ones derived from direct endometrial biopsy and Hysteroscopy findings.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study, menopausal women who attended the outpatient clinic of Arash Hospital, Tehran University of medical Sciences, from April 2005 to March 2006 with the complain of hemorrhage were evaluated. In all of these patients, after getting informed consent, Trans-Vaginal Ultrasonography, Dilatation and Curettage and Hysteroscopy were performed.

Results: The total number of 90 women was recruited to the study with the age range of 41-80 years. The mean age of participants was 53.84 ± 6 years and 4.3 ± 5.1 years had passed from their menopause. The mean thickness of endometrium, measured by Trans Vaginal ultrasonography was 6.25 ± 3.7 millimeter. In the biopsy derived specimens, the most finding pathological presentation was atrophy (48.9%) and the Proliferative endometrium had the second prevalence (36.7%). Atrophy (44.4%) and Proliferative endometrium (33.3%) were the most prevalent finding in Hysteroscopy. There was a significant difference in endometrial thickness between groups of different pathological findings. A significant difference in endometrial thickness was also seen between groups with different Hysteroscopic finding. By grouping the data according to endometrial thickness, it became evident that endometrial thickness can predict the outcome of endometrial biopsy and Hysteroscopic finding efficiently. We used ROC curves to find the best grouping threshold for endometrial thickness to achieve the best sensitivity and specificity.

Conclusion: Measuring the endometrial thickness by Trans-Vaginal Ultrasonography is an appropriate non-invasive test for screening post-menopausal hemorrhage. 

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Background: Aeromedical transport provides immediate advanced medical treatment for certain critically ill and injured patients, bringing about rapid treatment and decreasing the time of hospitalization. With the great expense of helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS), research and review of experience is conducted to determine areas in which the enforcement of standards will enable the effective and optimal use of HEMS.
Methods: We examined peer-reviewed published articles in French, English and Persian journals and medical texts to determine the best use of, and standards for, HEMS.
Results: We found that HEMS effectively improves health care in three categories of services: the rapid transportation of medical personnel/equipment to an accident and of patients to the hospital (primary response) meeting road ambulances at an intermediate point coming from a hospital or accident to transport patients to a hospital (secondary response) the planned urgent inter-hospital transfers of critically ill patients for specialized care (tertiary response). HEMS standards have been set for: the flight equipment and crew, the types of emergencies to which HEMS should respond, the optimal length of time for each part of the mission (call out time, response time, on-scene time, transport time, and total rescue time) and the affect on patient survival. Some other standards include: algorithms for patient screening, flight heights for different diseases and injuries, rooftop and parking garage helipad at hospital, approach of flight paths and the facility at the touchdown area. HEMS standard medical equipment includes those needed for telemedicine and basic and advanced life support. Standard drugs on board the HEMS vehicle depends on the type of the missions selected for HEMS. The area of medical crew members, as well as their fundamental and the continuing training, also has standards that must be met. The standard scoring system for severity of injury, and finally, the standard method for the annual calculation of the cost and benefit of using HEMS in a specified region have also been considered.
Conclusion: As trauma is a common reason for requesting HEMS in Iran, the decrease in "Golden Hour" response time for trauma patients is a priority. HEMS is expensive and enforcing standards also requires increased effort and expense. Nevertheless, both can reduce the morbidity, mortality and expense for longer hospital stays. Thus, the proper telemedicine and life support equipment and drugs, as well as algorithms for patient screening can improve HEMS efficacy. Furthermore, enforcing proper communication and record keeping regarding trauma severity for HEMS missions allows hospitals to predict the proper immediate treatment for incoming patients and its future need for HEMS services.

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Background: Lung leiomyoma and pulmonary arterio-venous malformation (PAVM) are both rare diseases. Occurrence of them in a patient is rare too. Because of their limited signs and symptoms and so serious complications, accurate diagnosis of both diseases is important.
Case report: We present a 73 -year old female with PAVM combine with a coincidental solid mass in left upper lobe. Because of fistula size and combination with a solid mass, the lesion is treated by left upper lobectomy.

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Background: Hydatid cyst is a zoonosis rarely occurred except in endemic areas that capable of making pulmonary cavities fascilating fungus growth within it. Aspergillo-ma is a glob formed by hyphae from saprophyte growth of aspergillous specious in previously performed cavities within pulmonary parenchyma.

Case report: A 28 years old male patient without any comorbidity presented in emergency department with progressive two month dyspnea. Tube thoracostomy is done because of respiratory distress and massive hydropneumothorax. Thoracotomy and lobectomy is performed due to complicated hydatid cyst. Histopathologic investigation reveals hydatid cyst layers with fungal hyphae within it on granulomatous background.

Conclusion: Hydatid cyst with fungal contamination must be mentioned in differentials of dyspnea with lower segment lung cavities, especially in endemic areas. Thoracic CT scan with IV contrast can reveal fungus ball. Surgery is a treatment of choice and capitonage can be a prophylactic measure from secondary fungal infection in hydatid cyst surgery.

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Background: Visual, brain stem auditory and somatosensory evoked potentials (EPs) have been traditional paraclinical tests to evaluate the competency of sensory tracts in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. It seems that only one of these EPs could be sufficient, at least as a screening test. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the frequency of these three evoked potentials in definite MS patients.

Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study involved was 25 definite relapsing remitting MS patients who referred to our university hospital. Twenty five individuals from normal population without any neurologic, visual, auditory or sensory disorders have been evaluated as well to determine the standard values in our electrophysiology lab. Values more than mean+2.5SD for latencies and less than mean-2.5SD for amplitudes were considered as abnormal.

Results: Fifteen (60%), 13 (52%), and 13 (52%) had abnormal visual, auditory and somatosensory EPs respectively. The latency of P100 in visual EP (VEP) had the most sensitivity among all of the parameters. It was determined that the possibility of abnormality in each of auditory and somatosensory EPs in the presence of normal VEP could be 30.8%. In other words 30.8% of patients with negative VEP could have a positive auditory brain stem or somatosensory EPs.

Conclusion: In our study, a VEP abnormality was more frequent than auditory brain stem and somatosensory EPs. Thus it is not logical to perform triple EP tests in all suspected MS patients, but auditory and somatosensory EPs could be considered in patients with normal VEP.

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Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Background: Pulmonary resection is one of the most common thoracic surgeries Bronchial stump closure is important topic and still is controversy Bronchial stump closure with stapler is a new method that in addition to rapidity, lowering separation and dehiscence of suture line and lowering contamination of the operative site with bronchial secretions, and lowering the main complication after pulmonary resections which is sustained air leak- main factor in delaying discharge and patients dissatisfaction.
Methods: Two groups of 16 patients in a randomized clinical trial compared. In one group bronchial stump closed with stapler and the other stump closed with hand sewn method. Bronchial closing time, Operative time, time of airleak, time of chest tube, time of discharge and complication recorded and compared.
Results: In the stapler group time of bronchial closing was significantly shorter. Operative time was not different. time of air leak was not statistically different. No patients with long airleak, and the number of patients without airleak was greater. In the stapler group, time of having chest tube was statistically shorter and time of discharge in stapler group was shorter than hand sewn group.
Conclusions: Bronchial closing with stapler in pulmonary resection is a safe method and in addition to rapidity, time of chest tube and time of discharge was shorter. Although Time of air leak was not statistically different but patients in stapler groups had less Days with air leak and long air leak was zero in this group.

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Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Background: Standard thoracotomy necessitates division of thoracic large muscles leading to pain and impaired respiratory movements muscle sparing postero-lateral thoracotomy has been suggested as an alternative to reduce the aforementioned effect. The aim of this study was to compare muscle saving posterolateral thoracotomy with standard thoracotomy.
Methods: This study was a clinical trial. All patients who were candidates for elective thoracotomy were included and divided into two groups of muscle saving thoracotomy and standard thoracotomy randomly. Required time for opening and closing the chest, amount of prescribed narcotics, shoulder movements (flexion, extension, abduction and internal rotation), pulmonary function (FVC, FEV1, VC), development of seroma, and duration of hospitalization were assessed. Shoulder movements and pulmonary function were measured immediately before operation and 7 days later while pain measured in 1^st and 7^th post-operative days.
Results: 60 patients (42 males) entered the study and there were no significant differences regarding age and sex distribution between two groups (p>0.05). Mean duration of opening the chest in muscle saving thoracotomy was significantly longer than standard procedure while the duration of closing the chest wall was significantly shorter in muscle saving thoracotomy (p<0.05). FVC and range of motion of the shoulder were higher and post-operative pain was lesser in muscle saving thoraocotomy than standard thoracotomy (p<0.05). There were no significant differences regarding prescribed narcotics and duration of hospital stay (p>0.05). Seroma developed in 13% (n=4) of muscle saving group.
Conclusion: Muscle saving thoracotomy can be used as an appropriate alternative for standard postero-lateral thoracotomy in elective thoracic operations.

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800x600 Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Background: Recurrent miscarriage is defined as the loss of three or more pregnancies. Recurrent Pregnancy Loss (RPL) is traditionally investigated after three or more consecutive losses. Although some believe that the investigation must be launched after two miscarriages, there is not enough compelling evidence to draw conclusion.
Methods : In this cross-sectional study, we studied 58 women with two or more consecutive abortions (37 women with two and 21 women with three or more miscarriages) from 2005 to 2009. The following risk factors were analyzed and compared between the two groups: endocrine dysfunctions, genetic abnormalities, uterine anomalies, infections, thrombophilia, polycystic ovary syndrome, autoimmune disorders, sperm characteristics, and advanced maternal age.
Results : We did not find any known factor for pregnancy losses in 18 (31.03%) patients but in the rest, the most common cause of Recurrent pregnancy loss was endocrine disorders (41.4%). The other causes were uterine abnormalities (12.1%), infections (12.1%), maternal age more than 35 years (12.1%), thrombophilia (8.6%), abnormal semen analysis (8.6%), genetic defects (6.9%) and autoimmune disorders (1.7%). There were no significant differences between the two groups in regards with the causes of abortion except uterine abnormality (P=0.039) which was more frequent in women with three or more three miscarriages (23.8%) relative to women with two abortions (5.4%).
Conclusion: There were no significant differences between women with two or women with three or more three abortions in regards with the causes of abortion except uterine anomalies. Therefore, it seems quite reasonable and perhaps beneficial to start the investigation in patients with two abortions.

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Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a group of metabolic disorders such as DM I, DM II, secondary causes of DM and gestational diabetes mellitus characterized by hyperglycemic phonotype. The etiology of gestational diabetes mellitus is unknown. Recent studies address the chronic activity of immune system against infections (not autoimmunity) as an important cause of gestational diabetes mellitus. This study aimed to compare T-helper cells 1 and 2 cytokines and associated antibodies in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus and normal pregnant women.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 45 female patients with GDM and 45 healthy pregnant women in Bandar Abbas, Iran, from 2008- 2009. The exclusion criteria were presence of any infectious diseases or autoimmune disorders such as SLE or RA. Present and past medical histories were taken from the participants thorough physical examination. Blood samples (10 mL) were drawn and sent to laboratory for measuring serum IgE, IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, interleukin-10 (IL-10), interleukin-12 (IL-12), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF1), and interferon-gamma (IFN) measurements. T-test and Kolmogorov-Smirnov test were used for data analysis.

Results: The mean age of the patients with GDM and healthy pregnant women was 32.5 and 27.9 yrs, respectively. T-helper 1 and 2 associated antibodies and cytokines had no significant differences between the case and control groups.

Conclusion: The changes in T-helper 1 and 2 associated antibodies and cytokines are not associated with gestational diabetes mellitus and could not be considered as a predictor for gestational diabetes mellitus.

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Background: Education is the main mission of teaching hospitals, but the residents’ learning in acquiring new techniques does interfere in the overall treatment process of patients. Studies pertaining to the effect of anesthesia residents’ training in operating room on treatment procedures have reported conflicting results. Therefore, this study was performed to investigate the effects of anesthesia residents’ training on start time operative delays. Methods: This cohort study was done in neurosurgical operating room, Imam Khomei-ni Hospital, Tehran, Iran during 2010-2013 on a population study comprising of sec-ond year anesthesia residents. Patients were classified into three groups with 30 cases in each one according to the anesthetic team. Group I: one anesthesiologist in charge of two operating rooms and two anesthesia assistants Group II: one anesthesiologist in charge of one operating room and one assistant Group III: one anesthesiologist with-out an assistant. Patients in these groups were compared in terms of American society of anaesthesiologists (ASA) class, induction difficulties and type of surgery. Studied variables included :1) Interval between the patient lying on the bed to till anesthesia, 2) the time devoted to teaching residents, 3) time from the start of anesthesia until the start of surgery. An observer that was blinded to the type of intervention and the study design, recorded the times. Results: ASA class (P= 0.94), induction difficulties (P= 0.66) and type of surgery (spinal cord or brain operation) (P= 0.41) were not statistically different between patients in groups. Preoperative preparation time for the first group (23.5±8.1 min) was longer than the other two groups (21.5±6.2 min and 15.8±9.1 min), respectively (P= 0.001). Differences between the times from start of anesthesia to surgeries in three groups, based on ASA class and type of surgery were not significant (P> 0.05). There was no re-lationship between the times devoted to teaching residents in the first and second groups (P> 0.05). Conclusion: Anesthesia residents’ training in neurosurgery operating room may in-crease the time required for preparing for surgery, but this time expended is hardly of any significance.

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Background: About 15% of couples have fertility problems and male factor in fertility accounts for half of the cases. In vitro generation of germ cells introduces a novel approach to male infertility and provides an effective system in gene tracking studies, however many aspects of this process have remained unclear. We aimed to promote mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) differentiation into germ cells and evaluate its effectiveness with tracking the expression of the Testis specific 10 (Tsga10) during this process. Methods: This is an in vitro study that was performed in department of Medical Genetics in Tehran University of Medical Sciences from February 2012 to March 2013. Mouse embryonic stem cells were cultured on mouse embryonic fibroblast as feeder layer. Then mESCs were differentiated into germ cells in the presence of Retinoic Acid. Based on developmental schedule of the postnatal testis, samples were taken on the 7th, 12th and 25th days of the culture and were subjected to expression analysis of a panel of germ cell specific genes (Stra8 as pre-meiotic, Dazl and Sycp3‌ as meiotic and Protamin1 and Spata19 as Post-meiotic). Expression of Testis Specific Gene 10 (Tsga10) at RNA and protein levels was then analyzed. Results: It was shown that transition of embryonic stem cells from mitosis to meiosis occurred between 7th and 12th days of mESC culture and post-meiotic gene expression did not occur until 25th day of the culture. Results showed low level of Tsga10 expression in undifferentiated stem cells. During transition from meiotic to post-meiotic phase, Tsga10 expression increased in 6.6 folds. This finding is in concordance with in vivo changes during transition from pre-pubertal to pubertal stage. Localization of processed and unprocessed form of the related protein was similar to those in vivo as well. Conclusion: Expression pattern of Tsga10, as a gene with critical function in spermatogenesis, is similar during in vitro and in vivo germ cell generation. The results suggest that in vitro derived germ cells could be a trusted model to study genes behavior during spermatogenesis.

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Background: Sexual dysfunction could be under the influence of some underlying medical problems. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between medical problems and sexual function in post-menopausal women.

Methods: This is a community-based, descriptive-correlation study of 405 post-menopausal women residing in Chalus and Nowshahr cities, North of Iran, aged 40 to 65 years old from October 2013 to May 2014. A multistage, randomized sampling was conducted. The data was acquired through interviews using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire and a researcher-made questionnaire, and was analyzed using descriptive and analytical tests such as multiple linear regression and logistic regression models.

Results: 51.4% of the subjects had medical conditions. Cardiovascular disorders were the most common diseases among the subjects. 61% of the women were suffering from female sexual dysfunction (FSD). Sexual dysfunction in patients with medical conditions was significantly higher (P= 0.037). Scores of arousal (P= 0.000), orgasm (P= 0.018), and satisfaction (P= 0.026), as well as the FSFI total score (P= 0.005), were significantly lower in subjects with cardiovascular disorders. Scores of desire (P= 0.001), arousal (P= 0.006), lubrication (P= 0.010), orgasm (P= 0.004), and satisfaction (P= 0.022), as well as the FSFI total score (P= 0.017), were significantly lower in subjects with diabetes. Scores of pain were significantly lower in subjects with musculoskeletal disorders (P= 0.041), they experienced more pain during intercourse. In domains of arousal (P= 0.030), satisfaction (P= 0.040), and pain (P= 0.044), the scores of those taking antihypertensive medications were significantly lower than the scores of the rest of the subjects. Scores of desire (P= 0.001), arousal (P= 0.006), orgasm (P= 0.006), and satisfaction (P= 0.048), as well as the FSFI total score (P= 0.006), were significantly lower in those taking antidiabetic drugs. And lastly, the mean satisfaction score in women whose spouse had medical conditions was significantly lower (P= 0.040).

Conclusion: Cardiovascular disorders, diabetes, and musculoskeletal disorders could have a negative impact on sexual function in post-menopausal women. Thus, these diseases must be considered and treated in order to improve women’s health, particularly their sexual function.