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Background. Anxiety is independently associated with severe quality of life impairment and severe postmenopausal symptoms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship of early postmenopausal symptoms, sexual function, and serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) with anxiety scores. Methods. In this cross-sectional descriptive correlational study, 117 eligible postmenopausal women aged 50-60 years with mild to moderate anxiety were selected using convenience sampling method. The Beck Anxiety Inventory, Green's Menopause Symptoms Scale, and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) were completed. Data were analyzed using Pearson and Spearman tests and linear regression model. Results. By adjusting the confounding variables, the total score of FSFI and its sub)domains had no statistically significant relationship with Beck Anxiety Inventory score (P>0.05). The total score of Greene Climacteric Scale (r=0.535; P<0.001) and sub-domains of anxiety (r=0.448; P<0.001), depression (r=0.344; P<0.001), and physical symptoms (r=0.509; P<0.001), as well as the serum level of DHEA (r=-0.754; P<0.001) had statistically significant relationship with Beck Anxiety Inventory score. The total score of Greene Climacteric Scale and its sub-domains, except for the sexual dimension, and DHEA level could predict anxiety score. Conclusion. The score of menopausal symptoms and its subdomains, except for the sexual domain and DHEA level, could predict the anxiety score. The findings of this study show the importance of the relationship between early menopause symptoms and serum level of dihydroepiandrosterone with anxiety score in postmenopausal women. Practical Implications. It is suggested to conduct a more comprehensive study considering a wider sample size and socio-cultural factors and barriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of aerobic)resistance training on the population of cardiac multipotent cells, thickness, and diameter of the ventricular through the C-Kit pathway of male rats during the growth stages. Methods. Overall, 30 male Wistar rats in three age groups of 2 (n = 10), 8 (n = 10), and 96 (n = 10) weeks were accidentally divided into exercise and control groups. Resistance training programs (resistance ladder, 3 days a week) and aerobics (treadmill running, 3 days a week) were performed for 6 weeks. Hematoxylin-Eosin staining was done the heart tissue and histological images were prepared. Afterward, C-Kit gene expression was examined by the real-time polymerase chain reaction method. The statistical method of one-way analysis of variance (P ≥ 0.05) and Tukey’s test were used at a significant level (P ≥ 0.01). Results. The trained neonatal group had higher values in heart weight to body weight index, and the trained neonatal and trained young adult groups had higher values in left ventricular thickness (P ≥ 0.01). The decrease in left ventricular internal diameter in the trained young adult group was significant compared to the control group (P ≥ 0.01). There was a significant increase in C-Kit gene expression in trained young adult and trained old groups (P ≥ 0.01). Conclusion. Aerobic-resistance training can be an effective stimulus for increasing the number of cardiac stem cells and creating structural adaptations of the heart, including increasing thickness and ventricular diameter in neonatal and young adult groups. Practical Implications. Participation in aerobic-resistance training programs leads to the improvement of the cardiac structure and an increase in cardiac stem cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Opportunistic fungi create biofilm resistant to active antifungal drugs in immunocompromised people. The present study aimed to assess the expression of CDR1 and MDR1 genes in the stages of biofilm formation by candidate species isolated from clinical samples. Material & Methods: 100 oral, vaginal, and fecal swabs were sampled from people with immune and physiological defects and normal people. The isolates were identified by laboratory tests and specific Candida chrome agar culture medium, and the presence of resistance genes was proved by molecular method. The formation of biofilm in the presence and absence of amphotericin B- in the strains was investigated using the crystal violet test and scanning electron microscope photo. The expression level of CDR1 and MDR1 genes was determined using the real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. Results: More than 50% of isolated strains were Candida albicans, and the frequency of other strains was 8.33%. Among the 60 strains that were investigated in terms of genotype, only 48 Candida strains had both CDR1 and MDR1 genes. The statistical analysis of the results demonstrated that the amphotericin B-drug during 30 hours after biofilm formation significantly reduced the expression of resistance genes compared to the control group (P<0.05). Discussion & Conclusion: The expression of resistance genes in Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis is effective in increasing biofilm formation and the occurrence of candidiasis. Simultaneous expression of resistance genes is effective in increasing Candida albicans pathogenicity. The sub-MIC concentration of amphotericin B significantly reduces the expression of resistance genes and biofilm formation in Candida strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Protection motivation theory is one of the most effective theories in predicting preventive behaviors. It first emphasizes motivation and then the development of adaptive skills. This theory is used to understand and predict health intentions and behaviors that protect a person from traumatic events. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the effectiveness of group training based on protection motivation theory in the lifestyle, negative thoughts, and dysfunctional attitudes of depressed people. Material & Methods: In this study, we adopted a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest control group design. The statistical population was all clients suffering from mild to moderate depression who visited the Ghaemshahr Help Center in the spring of 1402. Considering that 15-20 people are used in group training, a number of 40 people in two experimental groups and controls were selected by the available sampling method and answered the health-promoting lifestyle questionnaires of Walker and colleagues (1987), Weisman and Beck's dysfunctional attitudes by Wiseman and Beck (1978), and Kendall and Hollon's (1980) negative self-concepts. The data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance, multivariate covariance analysis, and univariate covariance analysis. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The results of the analysis of covariance demonstrated that the mean scores of lifestyles, negative spontaneous thoughts, and ineffective attitudes in experimental and control groups had a statistically significant difference of less than 1% (P=0.01). Moreover, the post-test mean scores of negative self-inflicted thoughts and ineffective attitudes of subjects in the experimental group under self-protection motivation training decreased compared to the control group who were not under training. Furthermore, the effect size for group membership for lifestyle was equal to (Eta=0.83), for negative spontaneous thoughts, it was equal to (Eta=0.69), and for ineffective attitudes, it was equal to (Eta=0.62). Discussion & Conclusion: Self-protection motivation training is effective in improving lifestyle and reducing negative self-esteem and ineffective attitudes of depressed people. According to the nature of the protection motivation theory, it is suggested to be used to improve the lifestyle, negative thoughts, and ineffective attitude of depressed people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are no uniform methods in the classification of types of humor. Sometimes, they are categorized according to the topic, which is not of much help in recognizing the main and artistic types of humor. Sometimes, humorous methods and the main types of humor are combined with each other, which is a sign of impulsiveness and lack of mastery of the subject. The most accurate way to categorize is to first determine the factors that create humor, and then to categorize its main types. Finally, with a more detailed research, the techniques of creating humor which have numerous statistics need to be identified and put them together, part by part, in the sub-set of the main types. In this research, four humorous factors have been introduced to which all types of satire are indebted: defamiliarization, juxtaposition of opposites, exaggeration and extremism, simulation. All types of humor that arise through these four factors can be divided into seven categories; behavioral, linguistic, literary, fictional, dramatic, visual, and analytical satire. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Professional ethics has become an indispensable component of skills and various fields today. Disregarding ethical principles can have detrimental consequences for human society, especially when dealing with large and complex data in various branches of medical sciences. Adhering to professional ethical standards in data production and statistical analysis ensures the accuracy and validity of results derived from this data in the field of medical sciences. The primary objective of this article is to introduce and elucidate the principles of professional ethics in the analysis of medical data.Methods and Materials: In this narrative review study, we delve into an examination of articles and viewpoints presented in the realm of professional ethics. This examination encompasses a comprehensive analysis of the foundations of professional ethics in medical sciences and various approaches to this matter.Results and Conclusion: Incorporating ethical considerations in the domain of statistical activities and data analysis in medical sciences holds significant importance. These actions, including the evaluation of the value and credibility of each statistical action and decision, precise modeling, and efforts to find ethical solutions to ethical challenges in this field, can contribute to the improvement and advancement of medical sciences. Therefore, attention to the principles of professional ethics in data analysis in medical sciences stands out as an essential prerequisite for enhancing credibility and scientific assurance in this domain.

Introduction: Emotional regulation strategies are among the effective factors in improving the quality of life and general health of mothers with children with autism and attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder. Aim: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of emotion regulation training on the quality of life of mothers of children with autism and separation anxiety disorder. Methods: The research method was semi-experimental with a pre-test-post-test design with a control group. The statistical population of the research included all mothers with children with autism spectrum disorder and separation anxiety disorder who were referred to the private offices of psychiatrists in Borujerd city in 2019, and 30 of them were selected by convenience sampling. The sample was homogenized and divided into two groups. The participants responded to the Beach Center Family Quality of Life Scale (2006) for the pre-test and post-test. After 8 sessions of 120 minutes of emotion regulation training for the mothers of the experimental groups, statistical analysis of covariance and SPSS-24 software were used to analyze the data. Results: In the present study, the average score of the family quality of life in the post-test stage in the group of mothers of children with autism and children with separation anxiety disorder was significantly higher than the mothers of the control group (P=0.001 and f=21.194). The results of the Bonferroni test and the comparison of means show that the average score of quality of life in the group of mothers with children with autism was higher than the group of mothers with children with separation anxiety disorder (P=0.012). Conclusion: Emotion regulation training is effective on the quality of life of mothers of children with autism and separation anxiety disorder, and it is recommended for mothers with children with neurodevelopmental disorders and attachment disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background It is necessary to provide safe care for patients with acute and life-threatening conditions by nurses working in the emergency departments (EDs). These nurses need higher levels of independent performance. Therefore, the competency to provide safe care and having professional nursing autonomy in novice nurses working in the EDs are very important. Objective The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between professional nursing autonomy and safe nursing care in newly graduated nurses working in the EDs. Methods In this analytical cross-sectional study, the study population consists of all newly graduated nurses working in EDs of hospitals in Guilan, Iran. They all were included in the study using a census sampling method. The tools for collecting information were a demographic form, the assessment of safe nursing care questionnaire, and the professional nursing autonomy scale. Descriptive and inferential statistics (independent t-test, Spearman or Pearson correlation test, and linear regression analysis) were used to analyze the collected data. Results There was a significant relationship between professional nursing autonomy and safe nursing care; for every one unit increase in professional autonomy, the chance of providing safe nursing care increases by 0.133 (P=0.009). Conclusion The significant relationship of professional nursing autonomy with safe nursing care among the EDS nurses shows that if nurses have a greater control over their performance, decision-making ability, and autonomy to act based on patient safety, they can provide better quality care to patients. Therefore, empowering nurses by providing conditions to perform based on professional autonomy, can ultimately lead to better results for the patients and cause overall safety in the EDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Menopause is associated with an increase in blood sugar and an increase in inflammatory cytokines. Exercise and genistein have biological activities, including anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic activity. This study examined the combined effects of regular swimming exercise and genistein as a preventive strategy against inflammation and pancreatic cell damage in ovariectomized diabetic rats. Methods. A total of 42 female Wistar rats were divided into six groups: Sham, ovariectomy (OVX), diabetic ovariectomy (OVX.D), diabetic ovariectomy + exercise (OVX.D.E), diabetic ovariectomy + genistein (OVX.D.G), and diabetic ovariectomy + exercise + genistein (OVX.D.E.G). Animals underwent swimming training or received genistein or a combination of both for eight weeks. At the end of this period, the levels of TNF-α, Nf-κB, IL-1β, and SIRT1 proteins were evaluated using western blot in pancreatic tissue. Results. Ovariectomy increased the expression of TNF-α, Nf-κB, and IL-1β and decreased the expression of SIRT1, and these effects were more significant in ovariectomized diabetic rats. Treatment with genistein and swimming exercise individually reversed these changes in the level of proteins and improved the inflammation, but the combined effect of these two interventions exhibited more effect. Conclusion. The combination of genistein and regular swimming exercise provides enhanced protection for pancreatic tissue and effectively prevents damage to it. Therefore, performing appropriate physical activities and consuming compounds containing phytoestrogens can prevent the occurrence of disorders such as diabetes during menopause. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Climatic and geomorphological characteristics of a region are vital factors in the regional spread of diseases. Geographic Information System (GIS) is a useful tool for studying cancer epidemiology. This study was conducted with the aim of investigating the prevalence of childhood leukemia in Khuzestan based on 10-year GIS data of temperature, wind speed and dust level. Methods. The medical characteristics of all cases of leukemia in children admitted to Bagai 2 Ahvaz Hospital, which were diagnosed with leukemia for the first time. We collected what was diagnosed. Results. Five hundred and twelve children had acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and 100 children had acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML). The year 2015 had the highest and the year 2018 the lowest ALL rate. The peak of AML was in 2013 and the lowest was in 2018. Central cities had the highest mean particulate matter, temperature, wind speed, and the highest rate of leukemia. Conclusion. The results show that dust, temperature and wind speed are related to the prevalence of childhood leukemia in Khuzestan, Iran. Practical Implications. A wide range of environmental and genetic factors can play a role in the occurrence of cancer, so additional studies are needed to confirm the effect of particles and environmental factors such as temperature and dust on the occurrence of cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Attention deficient-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most prevalent psychiatric diagnosis in preschool children. The present study aimed to translate and determine the validity and reliability of the Persian version of Conners Early Childhood Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder Questionnaire–Parents’ Form in Iranian children aged 3-6 years. Methods. We included 1,013 pediatrics aged <6 years in 2017-18 in Tabriz, Iran. In the first step, the questionnaire was translated into Persian using the re-translation method. Then, the content validity of the questionnaire was evaluated by ten specialists. Finally, the concurrent validity of the questionnaire was simultaneously compared with the children’s Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). ROC curve was used to determine the best cut-off point, and sensitivity and specificity were measured to determine the questionnaire’s diagnostic value compared to the clinical psychiatric interview. The test-retest method was used to determine reproducibility using the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). The internal consistency was also evaluated with Cronbach’s alpha test. Results. Of all the 1,013 participants, 569 (56.2%) were female. The overall modified kappa agreement and concurrent validity coefficients were 0.76 and 0.70, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of the questionnaire was estimated 86.8% and 79.4%, respectively. The ICC was calculated at 0.90, and the questionnaire’s internal consistency was calculated at an overall Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.88. Conclusion. The Persian version of Conners Early Childhood Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder Questionnaire–Parents’ Form exhibited proper reliability and validity for screening the Iranian pediatric population. Practical Implications. The emerged validated tool from the present study can be used in the first-line health system in the public and private sectors for physician and non-physician healthcare providers, especially family physicians in primary health care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The use of existential group psychotherapy and mindfulness group therapy seems to be beneficial in improving the resilience and life quality of patients with hypertension. Aim: The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of existential group psychotherapy and mindfulness group therapy on resilience and life quality in patients with hypertension. Methods: The research method was semi-experimental with a pre-test, post-test, and follow-up plan with a control group. The statistical population of this study included patients suffering from hypertension referred to Atiyeh Hospital in the second six months of 2022, and 30 of them were selected by purposive sampling and randomly assigned to 1 intervention group and 1 control group. The research tools included a demographic questionnaire, the "Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (2003), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire (1989). After conducting 10 sessions of existential group psychotherapy and 10 sessions of mindfulness group therapy for the intervention groups, the data were analyzed by using the method of variance analysis with repeated measurements and in SPSS version 24 software. Results: Results of the Bonferroni post hoc test indicate a significant difference between the averages of the experimental and control groups for resilience and life quality variables and indicate the effectiveness of existential and mindfulness therapies. These results show that existential and mindfulness therapies were effective on the variables of resilience and life quality in the experimental groups (P<0.01). Conclusion: It is suggested that to increase the resilience and life quality of patients suffering from hypertension, courses of existential psychotherapy and mindfulness therapy should be held for these patients along with drug treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: The white color of teeth is one of the most essential factors in smile esthetics. Therefore, various whitening agents such as bleaching mouthwashes have been produced in response to the people’s high demand for having whiter teeth. The present study evaluated the efficacy of three whitening mouthwash products on tooth enamel whiteness. Materials and Methods: In the present in vitro study, 32 bovine incisors were assigned to four groups in terms of the mouthwash used (n=8): control (C); Xenon Smart White (ZSW), containing pyrophosphate and triphosphate; Signal White Now (SWN), containing Blue Covarine; and Pasta Del Capitano whitening mouthrinse (PCW), containing Plasdone. Colorimetry was carried out using a spectrophotometer at the baseline and 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after treatment with mouthwashes. Data were analyzed using CIELab parameters with ANOVA, RM two-way ANOVA, and post hoc Tukey tests (α=0.05). Results: The results showed that the whiteness created by the SWN mouthwash was clinically visible (ΔE>3.3). However, the functions of all the mouthwashes were statistically similar with no significant differences from the control group (P>0.05). Conclusion: Although, Blue Covarine-containing mouthwash was somewhat effective in whitening of tooth enamel, none of the mouthwashes had significant efficacy compared to distilled water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Covid-19 has had short-term and long-term negative psychological consequences on human societies. The results of numerous studies indicate significant effects on people's health, such as anxiety, stress, depression, insomnia, and PTSD. Aim: The purpose of the present study was the effectiveness of mindfulness therapy on stress and anxiety in patients with covid-19. Method: The research design was a quasi-experimental pre-test-post-test type with a control group, the statistical population of the study included all the people infected with the disease of Covid-19 in Isfahan city, and through convenience sampling, 30 people who recovered from Covid-19 were selected and through simple random method they were assigned in two experimental and control groups (15 people in each group). Corona Stress Scale (CSS-18) of Salimi, Abedini Chamgordani, Ghasemi Nafchi, Tabashir (2021) and Corona Disease Anxiety Scale (CDAS) of Alipour, Ghadami, Alipour, Abdollahzadeh (2020) were completed by the participants in the two stages of pre-test and post-test in the experimental and control groups.. Univariate covariance analysis was used to analyze the data. Results: The results of univariate covariance analysis showed that there was a significant difference in the mean post-test scores of the control and experimental groups. The mean stress and anxiety scores of the experimental group were significantly reduced compared to the control group, and mindfulness therapy intervention was effective in reducing the stress and anxiety of patients with covid-19 in the post-test phase (P<0.01). Conclusion: The results showed that mindfulness therapy has a positive and significant effect on improving the stress and anxiety of covid-19 patients, and according to the research findings, mindfulness therapy can be proposed to reduce the effects and consequences of covid-19 disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: MS is an autoimmune and destructive disease of the central nervous system with different disease progressions that lead to physical and cognitive disabilities. Aim: The purpose of this research was to investigate the effect of exercise in interactive levels, cognitive rehabilitation, and selected sports exercises on the cognitive functions in patients with MS. Method: The present study was a semi-experimental project with a pre-post test design. The statistical population included all women with MS in Tehran in 2021. The sample included 30 women with MS aged 25-45 years who were randomly assigned to three groups for cognitive rehabilitation, selected sports, and interactive activities. Then, for 8 weeks and every week, 3 sessions of 90-minute, people in each group did the specific exercises of their group. The neuropsychological assessment tests of Kontab (1980) and the degree of disability progression questionnaire (1995) were used for data collection. Data analysis was performed using ANOVA with repeated measures, Bonferroni post hoc test, and dependent t in SPSS software version-21. Results: The results showed that training on interactive levels led to greater improvements in the cognitive indices of reaction time and selective attention than cognitive rehabilitation and sports training (P<0.05). While all three training methods led to the same extent to the development of the cognitive indicators working memory and cognitive flexibility, no significant difference was found between the effectiveness of these methods (P>0.05). Conclusion: Overall, the results showed that interactive exercises have the greatest impact on improving cognitive function in people with MS. Thus, it seems that the use of this type of exercise leads to the induction of cognitive load, so it is recommended to use this type of exercise in the rehabilitation of people with MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: On average, patients suffering from non-alcoholic steatohepatitis after about seven years, their disease turns into fibrosis and reversibility at this stage becomes very difficult because this disease is an irreversible stage of the disease. Therefore, the effect of eight weeks of high-intensity interval training in water on inflammatory factors in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis was investigated. Methods: In this study, eight-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into healthy (n=20) and high-fat diet (HFD) (n=20) groups. After eight weeks and proof of disease induction, the HFD group was randomly divided into two groups: control-disease (n=9) and exercisedisease (n=9); Also, the healthy group was divided into two groups: control-healthy (n=9) and exercise-healthy (n=9). The rats in the training group performed HIIT swimming training, including 20 times of 30 seconds of swimming with 30 seconds of rest between each time, for eight weeks (three days a week). One-way ANOVA and Bonferroni's post hoc test (P<0.05) were used to determine the difference between groups. The proposal of this study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (IR.SUMS.REHAB.REC.1400.008). Results: As shown in diagram 1; Based on the results of the one-way analysis of variance test, it can be said that there was a significant difference between the mean TNF-α blood serum (P=0.001). According to the results of Bonferroni's post hoc test, there was a significant increase in the patient-control group compared to the healthy-control group (P=0.001) and also a significant decrease in the patient-exercise group compared to the patient-control group (P=0.012). Also, a significant decrease was observed in the exercise-healthy group compared to the control-patient group (P=0.001) and the exercise-patient group (P=0.002). Conclusions: The results of the present research showed that high-intensity intermittent swimming exercises reduce inflammatory and fibrotic factors, and in general, it can be concluded that eight weeks of high-intensity intermittent swimming exercises improve the inflammatory and fibrotic factors associated with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. . However, to obtain a definitive result, this type of exercise should be studied in human studies in this patient community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. High-fat diet (HFD) intake is linked to ectopic fat deposition in the pancreas. It also causes pancreatic inflammatory lesions. trans-Chalcone is a simple chalcone with protective effects against HFD-induced metabolic disorders. This study, for the first time, explored the possible effects of this chalcone on high-fat emulsioninduced pancreatic abnormalities in rats. Methods. Twenty-one male rats were randomly assigned into three groups: control (received 10% tween 80); HFD (received high-fat emulsion+10% tween 80); and HFD + chalcone (received high-fat emulsion+trans-chalcone). Real-time PCR was used to assess pancreatic mRNA expression levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in the pancreas of all rats. Results. High-fat emulsion increased the mRNA expression levels of inflammatory biomarkers, including TNF-α and MCP-1 in the pancreas of rats, and treatment with trans-chalcone prevented these high-fat emulsion-induced changes. Conclusion. trans-Chalcone can protect the pancreas of male rats against HFD-induced abnormalities through its anti-inflammatory effects. Practical Implications. It seems that consumption of HFD up-regulates the production of inflammatory mediators in the pancreas. On the other hand, trans-chalcone can ameliorate HFD-related pancreatic inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims Due to the effects of COVID-9, health care workers, including nurses, faced many psychological challenges, including death anxiety. This study aims to determine the death anxiety level of nurses working in the intensive care units (ICUs) for COVID-19 patients in hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2020. Materials & Methods This is a descriptive cross-sectional study that was conducted on 179 nurses working in the ICUs for COVID-19 patients in two hospitals located in Tehran and Qom cities. Continuous sampling method was used for their selection. Data collection was done using a demographic form and Templer's 15-item death anxiety scale. Results The mean death anxiety score of nurses was 8.74±2.007 out of 15, which is higher than the median score (i.e., 7.5). The results of one-way analysis of variance showed that the death anxiety score was significantly different between nurses only in terms of age (P=0.000). Tukey's post hoc test showed that the mean DAS score in nurses aged 30-39 was lower than in nurses aged ≥40 years and <30 years. There was no statistically significant difference in death anxiety between nurses in terms of other demographic factors (P>0.05). Conclusion The nurses working in ICUs experienced a high level of death anxiety during the COVID-19 in Iran. It is necessary that the policy makers and educational, medical or hospital managers develop educational and interventional programs including online in-service programs or educational booklets to help nurses overcome the COVID-19-related conditions [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims During the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccination is necessary for pregnant or lactating women which can prevent them from infection to severe case of disease. The present study aims to determine the factors related to the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination among pregnant or lactating women in Zahedan, Iran using the health belief model (HBM). Materials & Methods This is a cross-sectional study. Participants were 260 pregnant or lactating women referred to comprehensive health service centers in Zahedan city in 2022. Sampling method was done as a convenience sampling method. Data collection was done using a demographic form and a HBM-based questionnaire. The reliability of the questionnaire was confirmed based on Cronbach’s alpha value of 0.7. Moreover, the content validity index value was 0.81 and the content validity ratio was 0.77. The data were analyzed using non-parametric Wilcoxon test, Mann-Whitney U test, Spearman correlation test, and regression analysis in SPSS software, version 22. Results The results of the regression analysis showed that the demographic variables explained 12.6% of the variance in vaccine acceptance behavior, where only the effect of age and educational level was significant, (P<0.05). The BM constructs along with age and educational level predicted 26.3% of the variance in vaccine acceptance behavior, where only age, self-efficacy and perceived benefits had a significant effect (P<0.05). Overall, the mentioned variables predicted 38.9% of the variance in vaccine acceptance behavior. Conclusion The factors of young age, high educational level, and the HBM constructs of self-efficacy and perceived benefits can predict the COVID-19 vaccine acceptance behavior of pregnant or lactating women in the South East of Iran. These findings can help policymakers and health care providers to use this model in designing program for improving vaccination acceptance of these high-risk groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The COVID-19 pandemic caused changes in daily life and disrupted hospital performance and the provision of medical services, especially in the organ transplant departments. Objective This study aims to compare the frequency of organ donation and transplantation before and after the COVID-19 outbreak in the transplant centers of northern Iran. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted on 75 donors with brain death from 2018 to 2021 in Rasht. Demographic data, underlying diseases, history of smoking and drug use, causes of brain death, type of donated organ, number of donated organs per patient, type of transplanted organ, and the location of transplantation (in or out of the province) were recorded. Then, these factors were compared between two time periods: Before the pandemic (from July 2018 to February 2020) and during the pandemic (from February 2020 to August 2021). The recorded data was analyzed in SPSS software, version 21. The significance level was set at 0.05. Results The mean age of donors during the pandemic was significantly higher than that of patients before the pandemic (P<0.001). The most common cause of brain death in donors before the pandemic was trauma; after the pandemic, cerebrovascular causes were more common (P=0.01). The frequency of organ donation and the mean number of donated organs per donor during the pandemic were significantly lower than before the pandemic (P<0.001). Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic has significant impact on the process of organ donation and transplantation in northern Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A hydrological parameter affecting the management of water resource systems is changes in the amount and occurrence time of extreme precipitation (OTEP). In this research, the seasonality of precipitation in the Lake Urmia (LU) basin was analyzed using the daily extreme precipitation data of 30 rain gauges in the statistical period of 1991-2018. The uniformity of OTEP was tested by Rayleigh and Kuiper’s tests at 0.1, 0.05, and 0.01 levels. The slope of the trend line for OTEP was estimated using the modified Sen slope estimator. The uniformity of OTEP was rejected at each level. The results revealed two strong seasons: late winter and early spring (S1) and autumn (S2) for OTEP. The results showed a general median seasonality index of 0.3, which changed to 0.82 and 0.9 for S1 and S2, respectively, after dividing the whole year into two seasons. The seasonal strength of S1 was similar in both the western and eastern parts of LU, but the west of the lake was stronger than the eastern part in S2. In S1, negative and positive trends in the OTEP were observed on average in 40% and 60% of the stations, respectively, with corresponding values of 77% and 27% for S2, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study aimed to compare the microleakage of an adhesive fissure sealant (AFS), a flowable composite resin (FC), and a resin-modified glass ionomer (RMGI) in permanent teeth. Methods: This in vitro, experimental study was conducted on 45 extracted posterior teeth with sound fissures. The teeth were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=15). The occlusal fissures were sealed with Beautisealant AFS without etching and bonding in group 1, with Beautifil FC after 37% phosphoric acid etching in group 2, and with Fuji II LC RMGI in group 3. The teeth underwent 500 thermal cycles (5-55°C), and their apices were sealed with wax. They were then immersed in 2% methylene blue for 24 hours. Next, the teeth were sectioned buccolingually and inspected under a stereomicroscope to measure the dye penetration depth as an indicator of microleakage. Data were analyzed by ANOVA, Chi-square test, and Scheffe test (alpha=0.05). The study was approved by the ethics committee of Hamadan University of Medical Sciences (IR.UMSHA.REC.1399.728). Results: The microleakage score of RMGI was significantly higher than that of AFS and FC (P<0.05), while the microleakage scores of FC and AFS were not significantly different (P=0.330). Conclusions: The AFS showed a sealing ability comparable to that of FC, and can be used as an alternative to FC due to its fewer application steps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is very common in athletes. This study aims to investigate the impact of transcranial electrical stimulation of alternating current on response inhibition and selective attention in athletes with ADHD. Methods: The present study was quasi-experimental with a pretest, posttest, and follow-up design with the control group. The statistical population was 160 elite athletes with ADHD aged 9 to 11 years (60 girls and 100 boys). Of these, 120 athletes with ADHD were randomly selected and assigned to three groups of 40: control, sham, and tACS. First, a pretest was done, and then all subjects in the sham and experimental groups received F3 (Anodal) and F4 (Cathodic) fake and real stimulations, respectively, with a current of 1 mA (10 Hz) for 15 minutes in 10 sessions. The control group did not receive any intervention, then each group was re-examined. A follow-up test was done after two weeks. The Continuous Performance Test (CPT) and Stroop were used in this study. For data analysis, Mixed ANOVA, one-way ANOVA, and Benferroni's post hoc test were used with using SPSS version 21 statistical software (P≤0.05). This study is approved sport sciences Reserch Institute with ethical registration code IR.SSRI.REC.1401.1361.Parents gave written informed consent form. Results: The results showed that tACS was effective in the response inhibition and selective attention of athletes with ADHD and led to the improvement of response inhibition and selective attention of these subjects. Conclusions: Based on the findings, the tACS protocol of 1 mA can be used as an effective treatment to improve inhibition and selective attention of athletes with ADHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Health systems are responsible for providing healthcare services for all people in a community with reasonable costs. The primary objective was to evaluate and minimize the various expenses the patients incur consistently. The current study aimed to examine the direct non-medical and indirect expenses incurred to hospitalized patients infected with the Omicron variant of COVID-19. Methods. This cross-sectional study was conducted in February 2022 at Kosar Hospital in Semnan, Iran to investigate 400 hospitalized patients infected with the COVID-19 Omicron variant. The data were collected using a standardized instrument and conducting interviews with the patient. The descriptive findings were presented as frequencies (percentages) for qualitative variables and as means (standard deviations) for quantitative variables. The statistical relationship between demographic and background variables and the types of costs imposed on patients was examined performing T-test, ANOVA, and Tukey's post hoc test. Results. The study findings revealed that the patients and their families spent 20,260,000 IRR on direct non-medical treatment and 28,300,000 IRR on indirect treatment. A comprehensive statistical analysis was conducted to examine the correlation between demographic and background variables and the types of the costs incurred by patients and their families. The results indicated that a previous lung disease, asthma, diabetes, an admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), a coma in the patient, and COVID-19-induced heart complications were statistically and significantly associated with the direct non-medical costs. Furthermore, it was found that variables such as age, gender, educational status, employment status, engagement in occupational and physical activities, as well as the occurrence of a coma imposed additional indirect costs on the patients and their families (P<0.05). Conclusion. In sum, an infection with the Omicron variant of COVID-19 placed a substantial financial burden on the individuals and their households. Various factors may have influenced the magnitude of these expenses; therefore, it was recommended that these factors should be considered when implementing the promotional initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the goals of the United Nations for the sustainable development of societies in the third millennium, the approach of water and food nexus is considered one of the important interdisciplinary perspectives in the direction of the dynamic balance of production and consumption of resources. Due to the consumption of more than 90% of the country's water resources in the agricultural sector, access to accurate statistics of this field is vitally important in creating a balance between water production and consumption in the water-food nexus approach. In such a way, the presentation of incorrect statistics or statistics with many errors, especially by official authorities, by entering into different models developed by researchers, will lead to distorted results, wrong decisions and ultimately economic and environmental damages and social tensions. In this research, with the approach of using the connections of ecosystems, water-food nexus was investigated; Thus, the correlation between the presented statistics of the production sector and the water consumption sector was analyzed by using water-food nexus with the method of uncomplicated calculations. Based on the information, the inconsisitency of the statistics provided by different departments is evident. According to the statistics of crop production in 2014-2015 and 2019-2020, the undercultivated area in the agricultural sector in 2019-2020 has grown by about 1% compared to 2014-2015, and in 13 provinces the undercultivated area has increased and in other provinces the undercultivated area in the agricultural sector has decreased. Water consumption in the agricultural sector has grown by about 10%, so that in 23 provinces, water consumption in the agricultural sector has increased and in 8 provinces, water consumption in the agricultural sector has decreased. This difference is due to the change in the cultivation pattern and the crop selected by farmers in the country. Also, according to the amount of programmable water that has been announced by the Ministry of Energy, in 12 provinces, the amount of programmable water is not enough to meet the Pure water consumption for crops, and even in some provinces, the amount of programmable water is only enough to supply garden products. This important and basic finding implies and emphasizes the need to solve the problems of statistics of different authorities of the country.

Background & Aims Caring for a patient undergoing hemodialysis is a stressful experience that causes a heavy care burden. With the outbreak of COVID-19, family caregivers of these patients had increased worry about the risk of infection in the dialysis centers. This fear can make their care burden heavier. This study aims to investigate the impact of coping skills training on the care burden experienced by family caregivers of patients undergoing hemodialysis. Materials & Methods This quasi-experimental study was conducted in 2020 on 60 family caregivers of patients undergoing hemodialysis at the Comprehensive Treatment Center for Special Diseases in Birjand, Iran. Participants were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. The intervention group received coping skills training in six sessions. All participants completed the Zarit burden interview before, immediately after, and one month after the intervention. The data were analyzed in SPSSsoftware, version 19. Results The two groups were homogeneous regarding demographic information (P>0.05). Both groups had a moderate to severe care burden before the intervention. A significant difference was reported in the care burden score of the intervention group after training (P<0.001). Conclusion Coping skills training can reduce the care burden of the family caregivers of patients undergoing hemodialysis. Therefore, coping skills training can be used by nursing managers to reduce the care burden of family caregivers of patients with hemodialysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims One of the goals of providing training to the anesthesia care team is to train staff with theoretical and functional abilities to deal with clinical challenges. However, there is a gap between the existing and desired performance levels of personnel in anesthesia procedures. This study aims to assess the competence of anesthesia personnel in Kashan, Iran, and find its related factors. Materials & Methods This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 95 anesthesia personnel of hospitals in Kashan, Iran, in 2023, who were selected using a census method. The data collection tools were a demographic form and the Anesthesia Nursing Competence Scale. Data were analyzed in SPSS v.22 software using descriptive statistics (frequency, mean, standard deviation), Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Spearman’s correlation test, Point-Biserial correlation test, and regression analysis. Results The mean age of the participants was 34.57±10.1 years. The overall competence level of anesthesia personnel was at a high level (84.84±53.11). Their competence had a significant relationship with their sex and marital status (P<0.05). Conclusion The competencee of anesthesia personnel in Kashan is at a high level in all fields, except for the patient’s risk care. It is recommended to empower personnel in this area to prevent adverse events and improve the quality of medical services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Play is one of the methods for teaching the necessary movement, emotional and social skills, and structured play is the basis for children's normal communication and learning processes. Aim: The purpose of this study was the effectiveness of a selected movement program of structured, unstructured, and mixed on the social and psychological development of children aged 4-6 years. Method: The present research method was semi-experimental with a pretest-posttest design. The statistical population included children aged 4-6 years in district-5 of Tehran in 2020. The statistical sample included 60 children who were randomly selected and divided into three groups of 20 children. The studied groups trained for 12-weeks according to their implementation protocol, two session’s per-week and one-hour per-session. The research groups completed Vineland Social Development Questionnaire (1989) and Children Psychological Development (2010) before and after the intervention. A mixed ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc tests were used to analyze the data. All statistical analyzes were performed using SPSS version-26 software. Results: The results showed that for social and psychological development, the main effect of levels and the interactive effect of group levels were significant (P<0.05), but the main effect of group was not significant (P>0.05). The results of the Bonferroni post hoc test showed that there was a significant difference between the mixed and structured groups (P<0.05), but no significant difference between the unstructured and structured groups and between the mixed and unstructured groups (P>0.05). Conclusion: Based on the results indicating the effectiveness of the mixed exercises on psychological and social development, it is suggested that professionals and physical education teachers use these protocols to improve and promote these skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Cardiac ischemia is the major cause of morbidity and mortality which can be increased by Statins. This study aimed to increase the effectiveness of simvastatin in the form of niosomes. Methods. In this study, 25 male Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups: control, ischemia (induced by closed LAD), ischemia receiving nano-niosomes, ischemia receiving simvastatin, and ischemia receiving simvastatin-loaded nano-niosomes. One month after the drug injection, RNA was extracted from the heart tissue of the studied groups, cDNA was synthesized, and a real-time PCR test was performed using specific primers. SPSS 21.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Analysis of variance was used to investigate the effect of the interventions, and Tukey's post hoc test was used to investigate a significant difference (P<0.05) between the control groups and other groups as well as between intervention groups. Results. Apoptosis and autophagy increased significantly in the ischemia group compared to the control group (P<0.05). In the simvastatin-loaded nano-niosomes group, compared to the simvastatin group, apoptosis and autophagy showed a significant decrease (P<0.05), and also in both simvastatin-loaded nano-niosomes and simvastatin group, compared to the control group, apoptosis and autophagy showed a significant decrease. (P<0.05). Conclusion. Simvastatin is an effective drug in the recovery of cardiac ischemia, but the main problem in using simvastatin is its instability and degradability, and the use of its niosomes form solves this problem properly. Practical Implications. Simvastatin‑loaded nano‑niosomes is more effective in reducing heart ischemia damage compared to simvastatin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Emotional intelligence as the ability to understand emotions in self and others, is recognized as underlying success in various aspects. Objective This study aimed to investigate the relationship between emotional intelligence and sleep quality in female high school students. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted on 284 female high school students in Rasht in 2019- 2020, selected by cluster sampling. Demographic, the Bar-On emotional intelligence, and the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) questionnaires were completed online by the participants. Data were analyzed by IBM SPSS statistics software, version 22 using Spearman’s correlation coefficient and multiple logistic regression analysis. Results The Mean age of participants was 13.94±0.95 years, and the mean previous grade point average (GPA) of participants was 19.61±0.89. The Mean total score of students’ emotional intelligence and sleep quality were 334.95±42.82 and 4.71±3.20, respectively. There was a significant negative correlation between the total score of emotional intelligence and sleep quality (r=-0.427 and P<0.001). Also, 31% of the subjects had poor sleep quality (95% CI, 25.7%-36.6%), and the multiple logistic regression showed an inverse relationship between poor sleep quality and emotional intelligence score (OR=0.98, P<0.001). There was no association between demographic variables and sleep quality (P>0.05). Conclusion About a third of female students had poor sleep quality. There was a significant relationship between sleep quality and emotional intelligence. Therefore, poor sleep quality was associated with lower emotional intelligence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims Patient care is the basis of the nursing profession, and the theoretical principles of nursing are based on understanding caring behaviors. Self-compassion can be a powerful source for these behaviors. This study aims to investigate the relationship between self-compassion and caring behaviors of Iranian nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials & Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted on 124 nurses working in selected hospitals affiliated to Iran University of Medical Sciences from March to May 2022. They were selected using a convenience sampling method. Data collection was done using a demographic/occupational form, Wolf’s caring behaviors inventory (CBI), and Neff’s self-compassion scale (SCS). After collecting the data, they were analyzed in SPSS software, vesion 22 using Spearman’s correlation test, Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and linear regression analysis. Results The mean total score of CBI was 82.06±7.76, which is a relatively high score. The highest score was related to the dimension of knowledge and skill. The mean total score of SCS was 79.74±12.73. The results of the Spearman correlation test showed that the relationship between self-compassion and caring behaviors was positive and significant (P<0.05). Also, the linear regression model showed a significant and direct linear relationship between the two variables. Conclusion Self-compassion of nurses has a significant relationship with their caring behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the increase of self-compassion, their caring behaviors improve. It is recommended to teach nurses self-compassion skills to improve their caring behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim Oral and dental health plays an important role in people's general health and is affected by various factors such as knowledge and attitude of a person regarding oral and dental health. Improving people's Knowledge and attitude in this regard will lead to more attention towards oral and dental health. therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the rate of tooth decay and its relationship with knowledge, attitude and performance in high school students in the Islamabad-eGharb city. Methods & Materials This study was a cross-sectional study conducted among 348 high school students in Islamabad-e-Gharb. Which were selected through sampling in two stages, cluster and random. Data were collected using clinical examination and standard questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Sheffe post hoc test and Spearman's correlation coefficient at a significance level of less than 0.05 using SPSS software, version 22. Ethical Considerations This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences (Code: IR.KUMS.REC.1397.548). Results The Mean Decay-Missing-Filled Teeth (DMFT) index 6.07±3.47 and Mean teeth decayed were 5.31± 2.90 respectively and 96.3 percent of the students had dental carries. Both DMFT index (r=-0.124, P=0.021) and teeth decay (r=-131, P=0.015) had a significant relationship with students' performance regarding oral and dental health. There was no significant difference between DMFT index and the number of teeth decayed with students' knowledge and attitude regarding oral and dental health (P<0.05). No significant relationship were found between either DMFT index (P=0.749) and teeth decay (P=0.614) with gender. Conclusion In this study, DMFT index and teeth decay were relatively high and this shows the need to design educational interventions in adolescents to prevent teeth decay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Workplace violence in the healthcare system has become an important policymaking issue in recent years and is considered one of the most complex issues for the governmental system. Due to the lack of a similar study in Golestan province, this study was conducted to determine the level of exposure to workplace violence against nurses and the factors related to it. Methods. This cross-sectional study was conducted in hospitals affiliated with Golestan University of Medical Sciences in 2021 Where 293 nurses were included after random stratified sampling. The data collection tool was demographic and occupational variables as well as the workplace violence questionnaire and data analysis was done by descriptive statistics methods and Mann-Whitney, Spearman, Kruskal-Wallis, and Chi-square tests in SPSS-23 software at a significance level of 0.05. Results. The average age of the nurses participating in the study was 33.93 ± 7.16 years and their average work experience was 9.82 ± 6.32 years. Among the subjects, 82.6% were women and the rest were men. The prevalence of workplace violence was 86% in one year. Mental and physical violence with a frequency of 79.5% and 42.7%, respectively, had the highest occurrences. Also, 57. 7% did not report any act of violence. In front of these acts of violence, the most reactions were inviting the attacker to calm down (42.3%), discussing the issue with colleagues (23.5%), and not taking any specific action (19.5%). There was a significant relationship between physical violence and gender (P-value=0.024) and department of hospital (P-value=0.003). Sexual violence was also significantly related to department of hospital (P-value=0.046). Also, there was a significant relationship between racial violence and gender (P-value=0.001), department of hospital (P-value=0.028), and work shift (P-value=0.005). Conclusion. According to the results, the prevalence of workplace violence was generally high in one year, but most of the nurses did not report any act of violence. Therefore, medical policymakers and hospital managers should consider improving nurses' communication skills, and security measures, training staff on anger management, and reducing nurses' workload. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Most common oral lesions during pregnancy are subjected to oral hygiene and gaining knowledge about them can improve oral health during this period. Thus, this study aimed to assess the knowledge of pregnant women in Isfahan about common oral lesions. Methods. This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study included 210 pregnant women aged 18-45 years who were non-dentists referring to private offices in three areas in Isfahan. A researcher-made questionnaire was used for data collection which determined the average knowledge and performance scores of the subjects as well as the relationship between knowledge and age, education, pregnancy, occupation, and their living area. Also, a one-way analysis of variance as well as Pearson correlation coefficient and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient were used for data analysis. Results. The knowledge and performance levels of most women were average. The knowledge level of pregnant women were directly related to their performance. That is, the more knowledge level, the higher performance score. The knowledge score was not related to age, employment in the non-healthcare section and being a housewife, place of residence and birth, but was directly related to employment in the healthcare section and education. The performance score was related to age, employment in the healthcare section, place of residence and education, but was notrelated to birth rank. Conclusion. The knowledge of pregnant women in Isfahan was moderate and needed to be increased. This knowledge was not much different in various groups of society, thus it should be increased in different ways. Practical Implications. Increasing the knowledge of pregnant women about the types of lesions and their prevention methods can reduce their prevalence which also will lead to a decrease in worries during this period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Cognitive -motor skills form a large part of human life, and for many years researchers and educators have attempted to identify factors that influence their implementation. Aim: The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of cognitive attentional focus instructions and exercise schedule on cognitive performance in elderly men. Method: The present study was a semi -experimental method with a pretest -posttest design and 4 experimental groups. Sixty elderly men from Ahvaz city aged 60 -80 years were selected by voluntary random sampling in 2020 and randomly divided into four experimental groups (variable practice -internal attention, variable practice -external attention, constant practice - external attention, and constant practice -internal attention). The dartboard attached to the wall served as a tool. The research groups had 10 sessions and each session consisted of 3 blocks of 10 trials. Thus, the test was performed 48 hours after the subjects' last training session. Data were analyzed using one -way ANOVA and mixed repeated measures analysis of variance. Results: The results of one -way ANOVA showed that there was a significant difference between the groups in the posttest phase (P=0.001, F=11.43). Tukey's post hoc test was used to test the differences. The results showed a significant difference between the variable practice -external attention group with variable practice -internal attention (P=0.011), constant practice -external attention (P=0.001), and constant practice -internal attention (P=0.001) groups. However, no difference was found between the other study groups at this stage. Conclusion: Based on the research results, the combined group with variable practice -external attention performed better than the other groups. Considering that the variable practice -external attention training group showed better cognitive performance, geriatric sneakers and professionals are recommended to use the combined advantage of these two methods in their training plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Oxidative stress plays a key role in the onset and development of diabetes-related complications. Due to the antioxidant effect of exercise and Urtica dioica (UD), this study aimed to evaluate the effect of one period of endurance exercise and hydroalcoholic extract of Urtica dioica on oxidative stress indices of heart tissue in STZ-Induced diabetic rats. Material & Methods: In this study, 50 Wistar rats (mean±SD weight: 232.12±7.42 g) were randomly divided into five groups: Healthy-sedentary, Diabetes-sedentary, Diabetes-Exercise, Diabetes-Urtica dioica, and Diabetes-Exercise-Urtica dioica. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (45 mg/kg) and 48 hours after injection, blood glucose levels above 300 mg/dl were the criteria for the confirmation of diabetes. Endurance exercise with moderate intensity (5 days/week) and daily gavage of hydroalcoholic extract of UD was performed at 50 mg/kg for six weeks. Data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 20) through Shapiro-Wilk, two-way ANOVA, and Tukey post hoc test. Findings: Two weeks after STZ injection, body weight in the Diabetes-Urtica dioica (P=0.001), Diabetes-Exercise (P=0.034), and Diabetes-Exercise-Urtica dioica (P=0.025) groups decreased, compared to the Healthy-sedentary group, and this reduction continued until the end of the sixth week. In addition, six weeks of endurance exercise and UD extract significantly reduced blood glucose concentration in the Diabetes-Exercise (P=0.001), Diabetes-Urtica dioica (P=0.001), and Diabetes-Exercise-Urtica dioica (P=0.001) groups, compared to the Diabetes-sedentary group. Furthermore, endurance training and UD extract caused a significant increase in catalase (P=0.019) and glutathione peroxidase (P=0.028) values and a significant decrease in heart tissue malondialdehyde (P=0.001). Discussion & Conclusion: Six weeks of endurance training combined with UD extract can increase the antioxidant index and decrease lipid peroxidation in the heart tissue of diabetic rats with streptozotocin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Keeping pets can expose their owners to various infections, including zoonotic parasites. This study was conducted for the first time in Iran to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices relating to parasitic diseases among pet owners in Hamadan and Kermanshah, Iran. Material & Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted with the participation of 200 pet owners in Hamadan and Kermanshah, western Iran. The data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire containing 62 questions, the reliability and validity of which were evaluated and confirmed. The obtained data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 19) through descriptive statistics (mean±SD) and inferential statistics (Mann-Whitney test). Findings: Most of the participants were female, had university degrees, and kept dogs. There was a statistically significant difference among the participants of both cities in terms of knowledge about parasitic diseases (it was more in Kermanshah, P<0.01); however, no statistical difference was observed in terms of attitude. Spearman's correlation coefficient showed that in Hamadan and Kermanshah, there is a direct and significant relationship between the knowledge score and performance (Hamadan: r=0.489 and P<0.001; Kermanshah: r=0.655 and P<0.001). In general, the level of knowledge and performance of pet owners is at an unfavorable level, and their attitude is at a favorable level. Discussion & Conclusion: This study, which was conducted for the first time in Iran, suggests that pet owners need necessary training to increase their level of knowledge about parasites and parasitic diseases of their animals, which will lead to improving their attitude and performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Chronic kidney diseases are one of the problems that threaten people's physical and psychological health. Aim: The present study aims to compare the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy and dialectical behavioral therapy on coherent self-knowledge, emotional regulation and life quality of hemodialysis patients. Method: The present study is a semi-experimental one with a pre-test, post-test and a control group design. The statistical population of this research was hemodialysis patients of Shafa Hospital and Javad Al-Aima Clinic in Kerman in 2022. For this research 45 hemodialysis patients were selected using convenience sampling and randomly placed into two experimental groups of effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy and dialectical behavioral therapy and a control group. The research tools included Qorbani Coherent Self-knowledge (2008), Gross Emotional Regulation (2003) and World Health Organization Life Quality (1996) Questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed using covariance analysis or ANACOVA statistical exams, Tukey's b post Hoc exam using SPSS-24 statistical software. Results: The result of covariance analysis showed significance difference between the experimental and control groups as (P<0.001). Compare to the control group, improvements were observed in coherent self-knowledge, emotional regulation and life quality of hemodialysis patients participated in both experimental groups. Conclusion: Acceptance and commitment therapy and dialectical behavioral therapy, are proper methods in increasing coherent self-knowledge, emotional regulation and life quality of hemodialysis patients. It is recommended that these approaches can be used alongside other medical treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim Fibromyalgia syndrome is a chronic disease that causes widespread musculoskeletal pain. It primarily affects women and negatively impacts many aspects of a person’s psychological and social life. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of cognitive therapy based on mindfulness and compassion therapy on automatic negative thoughts, psychological symptoms, pain intensity, and quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome. Methods & Materials This research is a quasi-experimental study with a pre-test-post-test design with two experimental and one control group. The statistical study population consisted of all individuals with fibromyalgia syndrome referred to Mehregan Pain Clinic in Mirdamad (District 3), Seyed Khandan Clinic (District 4), and Taleghani Hospital Pain Clinic (District 1) in Tehran City, Iran. Of them, 30 patients were randomly selected and divided into three groups of experimental 1, experimental 2, and control; each group will include 10 people. The instruments used in this study included the World Health Organization quality of life questionnaire (WHOQOL BREF), pain intensity questionnaire (PIS), psychological symptoms questionnaire (Anxiety, Stress and Depression [DASS]), and automatic negative thoughts (QNS). Ethical Considerations This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Arak Branch, Islamic Azad University (Code: IR.IAU.ARAK.REC.1400.005). Results The analysis of covariance showed the effectiveness of both cognitive therapies based on mindfulness and compassion therapy on four variables of pain intensity, psychological symptoms, automatic negative thoughts, and quality of life (P<0.05). Comparing the two intervention methods showed that both therapies had almost the same effect on pain intensity, psychological symptoms, and automatic negative thoughts (P<0.05) but the effectiveness of mindfulness intervention on the quality of life was significantly higher than compassion intervention (P<0.05). Conclusion The results indicate that cognitive therapy based on mindfulness and compassion therapy are suitable for people with fibromyalgia under appropriate treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim Given the increasing number of patients with multiple sclerosis and the psychological complications that affect this group, the present study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy and compassion-focused therapy for these patients Methods & Materials This research was a quasi-experimental study with a pre-test-post-test design with a control group. A total of 45 patients with multiple sclerosis were selected from MS patients in Tehran Clinic, Tehran City, Iran, in 2020. They were randomly divided into three groups: the first group was under treatment based on acceptance and commitment therapy, the second group was assigned to the compassion-focused therapy, and the third group was the control. The participants completed the Connor and Davidson resilience questionnaire and the Pennsylvania concern questionnaire in the pretest and post-test stages. The first and second groups participated in eight sessions of acceptance and commitment therapy and ten sessions of compassion-focused therapy, respectively. The control group did not receive any intervention. The post-test was done at the end of the therapy sessions. Data were reported by analysis of covariance. Ethical Considerations This research was approved by the Torbat Jam Branch, Islamic Azad University (Cod: IR.IAU.TJ.REC.1399.012). Results The results of univariate analysis of covariance were obtained at the statistical level of P<0.05. In this regard, F=5.88 for resilience and F=42.60 for anxiety intensity were obtained, which indicated the greater effectiveness of acceptance and commitment treatment. Conclusion Considering the effectiveness of both treatments, it is suggested that these treatments be given more attention to controlling patients’ psychological symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Addiction treatment is one of the challenges facing mental health studies, leading to failure if psychological components are not considered. Aim: The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of emotion-focused therapy and schema therapy on the self-efficacy of addicts undergoing methadone maintenance treatment. Method: The research was a quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest control group design. The study population included all addicts undergoing methadone maintenance treatment in de-addiction clinics in district 5 of Tehran during 2021-2022, of which 3 clinics and 54 patients were purposefully selected, based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria and placed randomly in two experimental groups and one control group. The research instrument was Sherer's General Self-efficacy Scale (1982). The data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc test through SPSS-26. Results: The results showed that schema therapy significantly affected self-efficacy (P<0.001, F(1.167, 32.687)=43.881). Emotion-focused therapy also improved significantly self-efficacy (P<0.001, F(2, 56)=29.048). Moreover, the results from comparing the two treatment methods indicated that in the post-test stage, emotion-focused therapy was more effective in improving self-efficacy and the component "coping with obstacles" in addicts undergoing methadone maintenance treatment than schema therapy. Conclusion: Considering the effectiveness of both treatments on self-efficacy and its components, it is suggested that therapists of addicts, especially patients treated with methadone, use these treatment methods to treat clients. Additionally, as emotion-focused therapy had a relative superiority, it can be used especially to improve coping with obstacles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Today, obesity caused by emotional overeating has become a ubiquitous phenomenon with major side effects. Aim: The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment-based group therapy and group schema therapy in emotion regulation difficulties and body mass index (BMI) of obese people with emotional eating. Method: In this quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest, control group, follow-up design, the population included all men and women, aged 21-50 years, who were referred to the nutrition and obesity clinics of Tehran, Iran, from September 2020 to December 2020. The study sample included 45 obese people with emotional eating, who were selected through convenience sampling among individuals visiting Mehrdadi and Behpouyan nutrition and obesity clinics and randomly assigned to two experimental groups and one control group. The data collection tools were the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (1986), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale by Gratz and Romer (2004), and BMI measurement. The collected data were analyzed using analysis of covariance and Bonferroni's post-hoc test in SPSS version 24. Results: Results from Covariance analysis showed that there was a significant difference between the scores of control and experimental groups. Compared to the control group, the experimental groups have improved emotion regulation and reduced body mass index. In addition to results indicated that acceptance and commitment-based group therapy and group schema therapy similarly improved emotion regulation and reduced the BMI of obese people with emotional overeating (P<0.05). Conclusion: Acceptance and commitment-based group therapy and group schema therapy were effective methods in improving emotion regulation difficulties and reducing the BMI of obese people with emotional eating. So it's suggested to use these methods in the treatment of obese people suffering from emotional overeating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Today, academic stress and subsequent test anxiety is one of the most important problems for the last year of high school students. In addition to systemic effects, stress can affect the level of oral health by disrupting oral health behaviors. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between stress and variables related to oral health in the final year of high school students prior to University entrance exam. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, the level of stress and variables related to oral health in 180 students of the final year of high school in Tehran, in three time periods during the academic year 2018-2019, were measured by a questionnaire and one clinical examination. Data were analyzed by Friedman, Bonferroni and Generalized Estimating Equations using SPSS software. Results: As the exam approaches, some variables related to the oral health, such as toothbrush usage pattern, daily sleep, fast food frequency, and sweet snack consumption, changed (P<0.05). Daily sleep changes were significantly associated with the stress changes (P=0.022). According to the results of the Repeated Measures Analysis, significant changes were observed between the average score of the "Cognitive Error" aspect of three times (P<0.001). Also, according to the results of the Bonferroni Test, significant changes related to the difference in the average score of "cognitive error" 6 months and 3 months before the entrance exam (P<0.001), 6 months and 1 month before the entrance exam (P<0.001), and 3 months and 1 month before the entrance exam (P<0.001) were observed. In all three cases, as the time of the entrance exam approaches, the score of "cognitive error" had decreased significantly. Considering that the lower score in this index indicates a higher level of test anxiety, the closer we get to the entrance exam, the higher the level of test anxiety in the "cognitive error" dimension Conclusion: The academic stress of the national university entrance exam can affect some oral health variables such as daily sleep, however, it is not related to other variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: The perianal fistula is a pathological tract between two epithelial surfaces of the anorectal canal and perianal skin. The most common treatment method is fistulotomy which leads to complications, such as incontinency. The present is study aimeds to compare the results of fistulotomy surgery and sclerotherapy in the management of managing the perianal fistula. Materials and Methods: This Randomized controlled clinical study was performed on 24 patients with anorectal fistula. The procedure performed for group 1 was surgical fistulotomy, and group 2 underwent sclerosant agent injection. Recovery time, recurrence rate, post-operative pain, and degree of incontinency were evaluated. The statistical analysis was performed in SPSS software (Version 18), and a p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: There were 5 (41.7%) men and 7 (58.3%) women in the sclerosing group, as well as 7 (58.3%) men and 5 (41.7%) women in the fistulotomy group. There was no significant relationship between the two groups (P=0.68). The recurrence rate was 3 cases (42.9%) in sclerosing group and 4 cases (57.1%) in the fistulotomy group, which was not statistically significant (P=0.65). The fecal continency score after sclerotherapy was greater than that in the fistulotomy group (P<0.05), and the length of hospitalization, postsurgery discomfort, and the time it took for the fistula to heal were all considerably shorter in the sclerosing group. Conclusion: We concluded that injectable sclerotherapy is effective, safe, simple, acceptable and affordable in the treatment of perianal fistula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: According to the importance of primary stability on dental implant success and osseointegration, we intend to check and compare the stability and crestal bone loss rate between osteotomy technique and conventional implant insertion techniques. Materials and Methods: In this study, 26 implants in anterior segment of maxilla in 13 patients were evaluated. The implants were TBR system (Toulouse, France) with 3.5 diameter and 10.5-12 mm length. The implant stability level was recorded immediately after surgery and 3 months later with Ostell mentor. The periapical radiography was taken immediately after surgery, 3 and 6 months to assess crestal bone resorption. Paired t-test and Wilcoxon signed Rank test used for data analysis. Results: There were no statistically differences between the two treatments techniques in terms of stability (P>0.05). The mean crestal resorption was higher for the osteotomy technique 3 months after implant insertion (P<0.001) but there were no significant differences after 6 months (P=0.678). Conclusion: Within the limitations of the current study, it can be concluded that the osteotomy it can be considered as a treatment technique in insufficient bone width. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim A lack of healthy nutrition first causes prediabetes and then overt diabetes, and every year about 5% to 10% of people with glucose intolerance develop type 2 diabetes. This study aimed to assess the factors affecting the consumption of healthy foods (CHF) based on the food pyramid among prediabetic women based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Methods & Materials This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2019 on 99 prediabetic women selected from comprehensive healthcare centers in Arak, Iran. A demographic questionnaire, a TPB-based questionnaire, and a food consumption Questionnaire were used for data collection. Data were analyzed through Spearman’s correlation and linear regression analyses. Ethical Considerations This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Arak University of Medical Sciences (Code: IR.ARAKMU.REC.1398.07). Results The Mean±SD score of diet behavior was 1.34±0.28 (in the possible range of 0-2). Around 41% of participants consumed sugary foods such as sweets and chocolate at least once a week and 35% at least once a month. Regression analysis shows that by increasing a standard deviation in the behavioral intention score, the behavior score of a healthy diet will increase by 0.22 standard deviation (P<0.05). Conclusion To achieve a healthy lifestyle in the individual at risk for a diabetics education program to increase perceived behavior and motivation for decision making for adherence to healthy food can be attention for policymakers in a health system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused many psychological and social problems in people around the world, especially nurses. The present study aims to investigate and compare post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), burnout, and psychological disorders in nurses with and without COVID-19. Materials & Methods This is a causal-comparative study. The study population includes all male and female nurses of non-government hospitals in Tehran from July to September 2021. Of these, 220 nurses (110 without COVID-19 infection and 110 with COVID-19) voluntarily participated in the study. The questionnaires were the Mississippi Scale for Combat-Related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, the Maslach Burnout Inventory, and the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale. Finally, data analysis was performed using multivariate and univariate analysis of variance in SPSS software, version 16. Results There was a significant difference between the two groups in terms of PTSD, burnout, and psychological disorders (P<0.05). Nurses with COVID-19 had higher scores in PTSD (F=96.38, P<0.001), emotional exhaustion (P<0.001, F=12.45), depersonalization (F=15.49, P<0.001), depression (F=92.97, P<0.001), anxiety (F=37.94, P<0.001) and stress (F=47.6, P<0.001). The nurses with no COVID-19 had higher score in personal accomplishment. Conclusion Nurses who were infected with COVID-19 had lower psychological health compared to noninfected nurses. For this purpose, it is necessary to take measures to identify and provide psychological treatments to improve the mental health of vulnerable nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

bodily health of people. Objective This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of emotion-focused therapy (EFT) on perceived stress and alexithymia in patients with coronary heart disease. Methods This was a quasi-experimental study with a pre-test-post-test design with a control group in 2019 on 30 patients diagnosed with coronary heart disease who were referred to Dr. Heshmat Hospital in Rasht City, Iran. The patients were selected by simple random sampling and assigned to 2 groups of 15, including an experimental group and a control group. The assessment tools included the 14-item perceived stress scale (PSS-14) and the 20-item Toronto alexithymia scale (TAS-20), which were completed before and after the intervention. The experimental group received EFT in eight 90-min sessions for two months. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, multivariate analysis of covariance and the Bonferroni post hoc test. Results There was a significant difference between the experimental group that underwent EFT and the control group that did not receive any treatment (F2, 25= 170.5, P<0.001, η² P =0.932). Meanwhile, according to the adjusted means, this difference indicates the effectiveness of EFT. Conclusion EFT training can play an important role as an adjunctive and psychological treatment along with drug intervention in reducing the perceived stress and alexithymia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: The type of circadian rhythms is essential in maintaining physical and mental health and recovery from the disease. This study aimed to investigate the role of circadian rhythms on sleep quality and corona anxiety in men and women. Methods & Materials: The present study is a descriptive comparative causal description. The statistical population included all 18-50 who participated in the survey online. People who completed the questionnaire online were selected for sampling. The research instruments included the circadian inventory rhythms Horne and Ostberg (1976), Petersburg Quality of Sleep Questionnaire (1989), and Alipour et al.’s (2020) Corona-related Anxiety Scale in the Iranian sample. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and the Scheffe test were used to analyze the data. Ethical Considerations: This study was registered with the Ethics Committee Razi University Technology Units Development Center at Institute for Psychoanalytic Studies (No.: 99133). Results: The results showed that the mean of mental and corona physical anxiety in women and men with evening type is higher than in other classes. Men and women in the evening type have a lower sleep quality than in the morning and middle types. The results also showed significant differences between the types regarding corona anxiety, sleep quality, and sex. The difference between the mean of the morning type and evening types’ mean was more than other differences between the means. Conclusion: Individual differences in morning-evening types seem to play an essential role in the quality of sleep and the experience of corona anxiety [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]