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Background: Information literacy enables learners to master information content and expand their exploration and control to learn more. Information literacy is an essential element in the development of independent and effective learning in higher education. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the organization and use of electronic information and its relationship with some demographic characteristics of students.Method: In this descriptive-analytical study, the studied population included all medical students from the third to the seventh year of medicine at Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences in Ahvaz in the academic year of 2020-2021. The sample size consisted of 302 people, of which 28 people were dropped. Data was collected by using information literacy questionnaire including 30 items and five skills. The validity and reliability of the questionnaire has been checked. The random sampling method was simple. To analyze the data, descriptive and analytical statistics were used using SPSS software at a significance level of p

Objective(s): Early, specific, and sensitive detection methods of COVID-19 are essential for force stopping its worldwide infection. Although CT images of the lung and/or viral RNA extraction followed by real-time reverse-transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) are widely used; they have some limitations. Here, we developed a highly sensitive magnetic bead-based viral RNA extraction assay followed by rRT-PCR. Materials and Methods: Case group included oropharyngeal/nasopharyngeal and blood samples from 30 patients diagnosed positive by PCR test for COVID-19 and control group included 30 same samples from COVID-19 negative PCR test individuals. RNA was extracted, using viral RNA extraction kit as well as using our hand-made capture bead-based technique. A one-step cDNA synthesis and Real Time PCR was conducted. A two-step comparison of the different viral RNA extraction methods for oropharyngeal/nasopharyngeal and blood samples was performed. Student t-test was applied with a P

Background: Urine calprotectin significantly elevates in acute kidney injury (AKI) in adult and pediatric patients. The present study aimed to assess the accuracy of urine calprotectin as a diagnostic marker for (AKI) in neonates.Methods: This cross-sectional study assessed urine calprotectin in 100 neonates (80 newborns with confirmed AKI and 20 healthy ones). Random urine calprotectin was measured by Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and then compared between the two groups. We included the neonates who had received at least 48 h of intravenous fluid and met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to set a cut-off point for urine calprotectin for the prediction of AKI. The overall accuracy and Kappa coefficient were used to assess the agreement between the two methods. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Urine calprotectin levels were not significantly higher in neonates with AKI, as compared to those in the healthy ones (146.2 versus 142.4; P=0.1). The results pointed to an optimal cut-off value of 123.5 mg/dl for urine calprotectin with the area under the curve of 0.515 (the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were obtained at 77.5%, 40%, 83.7%, and 30.7%, respectively). The overall accuracy and Kappa agreement coefficient were reported as 70% and 0.15, r (P=0.11). Conclusion: As evidenced by the results of the resent study, although urine calprotectin level elevates in AKI in neonates, it is not more sensitive than gold standards to predict AKI.

Background: Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is the best indicator to assess renal function; however, it is difficult to perform it, especially in neonates. Serum creatinine is the most commonly used marker of GFR; nevertheless, it has some limitations since it can be affected by factors other than renal function. Cystatin C, another endogenous marker used to estimate GFR, is not affected by non-renal factors. The results of some studies suggest that serum cystatin C levels are more accurate tests of kidney function than serum creatinine levels. This study aimed to estimate GFR with cystatin C-based formulas among neonates and determine the correlations between these methods and the Schwartz formula. Methods: The population of this research consisted of 99 neonates whose serum creatinine and cystatin C levels were measured concurrently. Moreover, the glomerular filtration rate was estimated using the Schwartz formula and 14 cystatin C-based formulas separately. Results: Based on the findings, all GFR values based on cystatin C formulas correlated significantly with each other (p 0.05). The only cystatin C formula that yielded values correlating with the Schwartz formula was CysCrEq, which used serum cystatin C and creatinine concomitantly. Conclusion: It can be concluded that since all GFR values based on cystatin C correlated significantly and cystatin Cwasindependent of non-renal factors, cystatin C reflected the real GFR more accurately than serum creatinine. Nonetheless, further studies with gold standard techniques are required to verify the usefulness of cystatin C-based formulas.

Introduction: Free radicals play a double role in the body based on their physiological level and can be beneficial or harmful. This review study was performed with aim to evaluate the cellular and molecular mechanisms of oxidative stress on spermatogenesis and oogenesis and the role of using antioxidant in improving fertility in men and women. Methods: In this review study, the issues related to the role of free radicals and antioxidants on male and female fertility disorders were searched in the Persian and English databases including: Elsevier, Scopus, Irandoc, SID, Iran medex, Sciencedirect, Pubmed, GoogleScholar and Web of Science using the keywords of free radicals, male infertility, female infertility, and antioxidants without any time limitation. Finally, 63 studies entered the review study. Results: The excessive production of free radicals in the male reproductive system causes damage to DNA, RNA, and sperm membranes, and ultimately disrupts spermatogenesis. It also causes disorders in the female genital tract including defect in oocyte development and maturation, follicular growth and function of corpus luteum. Conclusion: According the results of previous studies, using antioxidants may remove the harmful effects of free radicals on male and female fertility.

Background: The diagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) is focused on the measurement of glomerular filtration rate based on serum creatinine; nevertheless, due to the effects of the underlying confounding parameters, this procedure tends to have some problems. Recent findings identified neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) to be a critical marker for predicting AKI in humans. The aim of the present study was to evaluate changes in urinary NGAL levels in neonates with AKI and those without AKI.Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted on a total of 75 neonates hospitalized for AKI and 81 neonates hospitalized for reasons not related to kidney disease. The serum concentrations of NGAL creatinine and urine were measured in both groups.Results: The mean NGAL levels were 825.81±175.08 and 292.20±322.03 ng/ml in the case and control groups with a substantial difference, respectively. The NGAL had a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 55.6%, positive predictive value of 67.6%, negative predictive value of 100%, and accuracy of 76.9% in predicting AKI. Assessing the region under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve) showed that measurement by NGAL effectively discriminated AKI from normal conditions (area under the ROC curve=0.899). The NGAL’s best cut-off value for predicting AKI among neonates was estimated at 427 ng/ml, resulting in a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 67.9%. Using Pearson’s correlation coefficient test revealed a strong linear connection between the NGAL level and altered creatinine level (r=0.395; p

Background: Infections are one of the most important causes of death in infants, especially in developing countries. Inappropriate use and administration of antibiotics can contribute to the resistance and spread of infection. In this study, we determined the antibiotic resistance pattern of the bacteria isolated from clinical samples of blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and urine in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Ali Asghar Hospital, Iran during 2013-2015.Methods: For the purposes of the study, clinical samples of blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and urine were collected from the NICU of Ali Asghar Hospital during 2013-15. The type of bacterial strain and antibiotic susceptibility pattern was determined by routine microbiological tests. The collected data were analysed in SPSS software (version 19), using χ2, Student’s t-test, and ANOVA test for comparison.Results: In total, 240 positive culture samples (118 blood, 117 urine, and 5 cerebrospinal fluid samples) were collected for this research. The most common isolates in the blood, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid samples were Staphylococcus epidermidis (63.6%), Klebsiella (35%), and Acinetobacter Baumannii (40%), respectively. The highest antibiotic resistance in S. epidermidis isolated from blood samples was found against amikacin and cefotaxime, while linezolid and vancomycin were the most effective antibiotics against S. epidermidis. Moreover, ciprofloxacin and nitrofurantoin were the most effective antibiotics against Klebsiella isolated from urine samples, while this bacterial strain had the highest resistance to imipenem and ampicillin. Despite the fact that A. Baumannii strains were resistant to most studied antibiotics, ceftazidime and ceftriaxone had an acceptable antibacterial effect against these isolates.Conclusion: Continuous surveillance for antibiotic susceptibility, rational use of antibiotics, and the strategy of antibiotic cycling can provide some answers to the emerging problem of antibiotic resistance.

Background: Blood pressure (BP) is an important vital sign and indicator of clinical stability. Therefore, the accurate measurement and interpretation of this physiological signal is essential for the optimal management of ill newborns. In this regard, the present study aimed to determine BP values and percentiles in stable newborns in the first weeks of life and evaluate the relevant factors.Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted on 320 term and preterm newborns between 26 and 42 weeks gestational age (GA) within 2015-2017. The exclusion criteria entailed: 1) birth asphyxia,2) preeclampsia, 3) gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) type I, 4) illicit substance use, and 5) major congenital anomaly. The oscillometric technique was used for BP measurement and systolic and diastolic BPs were analyzed by regression analysis for various percentiles (5th to 95th).Results: The neonates in the current study consisted of 185 (57.8%) males and 135 (42.2%) females with mean (SD) birth weight of 2058.3±582.5grams. Mean (SD) gestational age was reported as 32.95(3.97) weeks. 69.1 % of neonates were delivered via cesarean section. Percentile charts (5th- 95th values) which were developed for systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) demonstrated a steady rise on the respective days that were comparable between different groups. Term neonates were found to have higher BPs, compared to their preterm counterparts on the respective days. Moreover, the neonates who were delivered vaginally had higher mean BP values than neonates delivered via cesarean section.Conclusion: The current study provided normative BP values among neonates, especially in the first two weeks of life. Data presented in this study which include delivery-mode-specific BP percentile curves using an oscillometric method serve as a valuable reference for physicians in the management of newborns in the neonatal unit.

Background: Bacteremia is relatively common in children with urinary tract infection (UTI). The aim of the present study was to determine the frequency of bacterial meningitis among neonates with laboratory-confirmed UTI.Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study was performed on 163 hospitalized neonates in Ali Asghar and Shahid Akbarabadi hospitals affiliated to Iran University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran. The demographic and clinical data of hospitalized neonates due to UTI during the recent 6 years (2010-2016) who were aged < 28 days and had cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture via lumbar puncture were extracted from medical records and recorded in some checklists.Results: A total of 163 neonates with laboratory-confirmed UTI with the mean age of 18.25±5.41 days were included. In this study, 54% of the neonates were male. Out of all neonates, 23 (14.1%) cases had positive blood culture. The positive CSF culture was observed in only two (1.2%) neonates. Positive voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) test was reported in 50% of the neonates with positive CSF culture (P=0.047). Although abnormal ultrasound findings related to the urinary tract in positive CSF neonates were higher by approximately twofold, compared to those reported for negative CSF neonates, this difference was not statistically significant (50% and 24.2%, respectively; P=0.432).Conclusion: The frequency of the concurrent occurrence of UTI and meningitis in our neonates was 1.2%. Out of all indicators associated with meningitis occurrence, positive VCUG may be a risk factor. Further prospective studies are needed to approve these results.

Background: The current study aimed to investigate the effect of enteral Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating G-CSF(Factor) on feeding tolerance in very low birth weight (VLBW) and extremely low birth weight (ELBW) neonates.Methods: This historical-controlled clinical trial was conducted on VLBW and ELBW neonates admitted to MahdiehHospital, affiliated to Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, between July 2016 and March 2017.In the intervention group, 81 neonates with birth weights of 710-1480 were given enteral 5 μg/kg/day of G-CSF (whichhas been approved by the US FDA) for 7 consecutive days. On the other hand, the control group included 191 neonateswho did not receive G-CSF with birth weights of 600-1490 admitted during 24 months prior to the study. The twogroups were compared in terms of adverse effects of treatment, primary and secondary outcomes.Results: The mean of gestational age and birth weight in the G-CSF group were reported as 29.96±2.47 weeks and1204.81±201.68 grams, and these values in the control group were measured at 29.77±2.13 weeks and1189.47±207.89 grams, respectively. Neonates who received G-CSF demonstrated better feeding tolerance, asreflected by the earlier achievement of 50, 75, 100, full enteral feeding of 150, and maximal enteral feeding of 180mL/kg/day (p < 0.05), with earlier weight gain and a shorter hospital stay. The rate of necrotizing enteroc olitis(NEC) in the G-CSF group was measured at 3.7% that was significantly lower, as compared to the control group(P=0.005). Approximately 8.9% of the neonates in the control group expired which was higher than the G-CSFgroup (P=0.06). All neonates tolerated the treatment and there was no statistically significant difference betweenthe two groups.Conclusion: As evidenced by the obtained results, the enteral administration of G-CSF to VLBW and ELBW neonatesimproved feeding tolerance and it was well tolerated without any associated side effects.

Introduction: Retrorectal tumors are relatively rare. Dermoid cysts are of the family of retrorectal tumors which are usually benign and found in young women. In this study, a case of retrorectal dermoid cyst is reported. Case presentation: The patient was a 25-year-old woman who had referred to Mashhad Mehr hospital with symptoms of nausea, vomiting, flatulence and change in bowel movements and pelvic pain. The physical examinations by laparoscopy revealed a mass measuring 74×62 in posterior uterus. The patient underwent surgery and the cyst was completely excised. The patient discharged after five days and no postoperative complications were reported in the follow up. Pathological results reported dermoid cyst. Conclusion: Surgery is the main treatment of retrorectal lesions and tumors. The use of imaging results such as MRI and CT-scan is recommended for more precise diagnosis of the nature and location of the lesion and to select the best surgery approach appropriate to the location of the mass.

Introduction: Burns have impacts including medical, psychological, economic and social that involve patients and health care system. Epidemiologic factors of burns vary in different societies. While the effects of some burn variables on mortality rate, in similar circumstances, are expected to be universal. The present study was carried out to analyze the epidemiology, mortality, and current etiological factors of burn injuries.Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted during a period of 6 years (from 2010 to 2015). Data were obtained by the analysis of medical records of patients hospitalized in the Imam Reza Burn Center in Mashhad, Iran. The data were recorded by the nurses and staffs in the burn ward.Results: In our study, 1334 in-hospital burn patients were recorded. The mean age was 27 ± 5.67 years. The most common mechanism of burn was flame. The multivariable logistic regression modeling revealed, that the most important risk factors of patient mortality were length of stay (LOS) (OR=2.53(95% CI: 1.75-3.66), percentage of burn regarding body surface (BBS) OR=10.64(95% CI: 7.58-14.43), degree of burns OR=6.39(95% CI: 1.46-27.99). Conclusion: The results of our study revealed a high incidence of burns. Prevention plans should be made in this regard

Background: Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia is one of the most common causes of neonatal morbidity and a global health priority. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of intensive phototherapy on management of hyperbilirubinemia with different etiologies. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted on 219 neonates with indirect hyperbilirubinemia, who had the indication for phototherapy, admitted to neonatal intensive care unit of Akbar-abadi Hospital, Tehran, Iran, during 2014-2016. The levels of total bilirubin, hemoglobin, reticulocyte, and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) enzyme were examined and direct Coombs test was performed during hospital stay. The participants were assigned to four groups based on the etiology of hyperbilirubinemia and underwent intensive phototherapy.Finally, the level of total bilirubin was compared among the groups to assess the effect of intensive phototherapy. Results: According to the results of this study, nonhemolytic jaundice was the most frequent cause of hyperbilirubinemia (82.19%). The mean bilirubin levels after 6 and 24 hours of intensive phototherapy were 4 and 6.2 mg/dl, respectively. Intensive phototherapy after 6 hours led to more significant reduction in the total bilirubin level of the neonates with total bilirubin level of higher than 14 mg/dl in comparison to those with the total bilirubin level of 14 mg/dl or less. The total bilirubin level was significantly decreased in all the groups after 6 and 24 hours of intensive phototherapy. Comparison of the rate of decrement of the total bilirubin level among the groups demonstrated that the neonates with ABO incompatibility showed the greatest decline after 6 and 24 hours of treatment (the rate of bilirubin decline: -5.16; P

Objective(s): Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) is used in clinical practice for the treatment of neutropenia and to stimulate generation of hematopoietic stem cells in bone marrow donors. In the present study, the ability of G-CSF in mobilizing exogenous bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) from peripheral blood into the brain was tested. We for the first time injected a small amount of BMSCs through the tail vein. Materials and Methods: We choose 25 male Wistar rats (200–250 g) were lesioned by 6-OHDA injected into the left substantia nigra, pars compacta (SNpc). G-CSF (70 µg/kg/day) was given from the 7th day after lesion for five days. The BMSCs (2×105) were injected through the dorsal tail vein on the 7th day after lesion. Results:The number of rotations was significantly lower in the stem cell therapy group than in the control group. In the third test in the received G-CSF and G-CSF+stem cells groups, animals displayed significant behavioral recovery compared with the control group (P

Background: Breastfeeding failures and oral feeding problems in preterm infants result in long-term health complications. In this study, therefore, we aimed to evaluate the effect of oral stimulation along with non-nutritive sucking (NNS) on independent oral feeding initiation and weight gain in preterm infants. Methods: This prospective randomized clinical trial was carried out at Aliasghar Hospital in Tehran, Iran, 2014. A total of 50 26-32 weeks gestational age hospitalized infants, who were fed through tubes, were recruited in the study. The newborns were randomized into A, B and C groups. In the A and B groups, the neonates were stimulated through oral stimulation as well as non-nutritive sucking for 5 or 10 days, while in the group C, no especial intervention was performed. Infants' mean daily weight gain, the number of days until initiation of oral feeding, oral feeding progression, the number of days until reaching full oral feeding and date of discharge were recorded. The obtained data were analyzed and compared in the three groups using SPSS version 16.0. Results: Of all the participants, 25 cases (55.55%) were male. Mean gestational age at birth and mean birth weight were 28.64±1.93 weeks and 1337.11±185.07 grams, respectively. In the group A, newborns' weight at reaching four and eight oral feedings per day and their weights at discharge were significantly higher than the other two groups (P=0.016, 0.001 and 0.001, respectively). Mean daily weight gain in the group A was higher (84.2850 g) than the other groups (69.5814 vs. 64.2677 g). However, ANOVA results showed that this difference was not significant (P=0.108). Moreover, independent samples t-test indicated that this difference between groups A and C was significant (P=0.049). Conclusion: In clinically stable preterm neonates, oral stimulation and should be implemented to increase their weight; however, further studies are required to address this issue.

Objective: Eucalyptus (Fam. Myrtaceae) is a medicinal plant and various Eucalyptus species possess potent pharmacological actions against diabetes, hepatotoxicity, and inflammation. This study aims to investigate essential oil compositionfrom leaves and flowers of E. microthecaand E. viminalisleavesgrowing in the Southeast of Iran. Materials and Methods: The aerial parts of these plants were collected from Zahedan, Sistan and Baluchestan province, Iran in 2013.After drying the plant materials in the shade, the chemical composition of the essential oils was obtained by hydro-distillation method using a Clevenger-type apparatus and analyzed by GC/MS. Results: In the essential oil of E. microtheca leaves, 101 compounds representing 100%, were identified. Among them, α-phellandrene (16.487%), aromadendrene (12.773%), α-pinene (6.752%), globulol (5.997%), ledene (5.665%), P-cymen (5.251%), and β-pinene (5.006%) were the major constituents. In the oil of E. microtheca flowers, 88 compounds representing 100%, were identified in which α-pinene (16.246%), O-cymen (13.522%), β-pinene (11.082%), aromadendrene (7.444%), α-phellandrene (7.006%), globulol (5.419%), and 9-octadecenamide (5.414%) were the major components. Sixty six compounds representing 100% were identified in the oil of E. viminalis leaves. The major compounds were 1, 8-cineole (57.757%), α-pinene (13.379%), limonene (5.443%), and globulol (3.054%). Conclusion: The results showed the essential oils fromthe aerial parts of Eucalyptus speciesare a cheap source for the commercial isolation of α-phellandrene, α-pinene, and 1, 8-cineole compounds to be used in medicinal and food products. Furthermore, these plants could be an alternative source of insecticide agents.

Objective(s):Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that appears on the skin. Although psoriasis is clinically and histologically well characterized, its pathogenesis is unknown in detail. The aims of this study were to evaluate the proteome of psoriatic patients' sera and to compare them with those of normal healthy human to find valuable biomarkers. Materials and Methods: In a case-control study, twenty cases of white patients with psoriasis vulgaris, 10 males and 10 females and sixteen healthy controls, 8 males and 8 females were enrolled in the study. The serum protein expression patterns obtained after depletion of albumin were compared by using two dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) coupled to MALDI/TOF-TOF to identify disease associated proteins. Results: Differential expression of nine protein spots representing four unique proteins including alpha-1 antitrypsin, retinol binding protein, keratin 10 and an unknown protein (with pI 6.47 and molecular weight of 19941 Da), between psoriatic and healthy human serum were found. Furthermore, expression of four new alpha-1 antitrypsin isoforms with different molecular weight and isoelectric point were observed in psoriatic serums in this research for the first time. Conclusion: A unique proteomic profiling with abnormal expression of alpha-1 antitrypsin and presence of keratin 10 in sera of psoriasis patients were observed that may constitute new and useful findings of psoriasis and offer a clue to a better understanding of the inflammatory pathway.

Objective: Scutellaria luteo-caerulea Bornm. & Snit. is one of the species of genus Scutellaria, within the family of the Lamiaceae, that is used for immune system stimulation and antibacterial effects in traditional medicine in Iran. The aims of this study were to analyze essential oils and mineral element contents of leaves of S. luteo-caerulea in flowering stage of development. Materials and Methods: The essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation of the leaves of S. luteo-caerulea and were analyzed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Moreover, microwave digestion with atomic absorption spectrophotometry were used for the mineral elements assay. Results: Ninety-seven constituents were detected. Between them, the major components were trans-caryophyllene (25.4%), D-germacrene (7.9%), and linalool (7.4%). Determination of mineral elements showed that the highest minerals were Ca2+ (65.14±1.95 µg/ml) and K+ (64.67±3.10 µg/ml). Conclusion: Presence of different essential oils and rich sources of Ca2+ and K+ candidate this plant as an auxiliary medication in different diseases, but more complementary researches are needed about its potency and side effects.

Introduction: Burns have impacts include medical, psychological, economic and social that involve patients and health care system. Epidemiologic factors of burns vary in different societies. While the effects of some burn variables on mortality rate, in similar circumstances, are expected to be universal. The present study was carried out to analyze the epidemiology, mortality, and current etiological factors of burn injuries. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted during a period of 6 years (from 2010 to 2015). Data were obtained by analysis of the medical records of patients hospitalized in the Imam Reza Burn Center in Mashhad, Iran. The data were recorded by the nurses and staffs in the burn ward. Results: In our study, 1334 in-hospital burn patients were recorded. The mean age was 27 ± 5.67 years. The most common Mechanism of burn was flame. The multivariable logistic regression modeling revealed, the most important risk factor of patient mortality were length of stay (LOS) (OR=1.009(95% CI: 1.001-1.018), age OR=0.9(95% CI: 0.96-0.97), sex OR=0.4(95% CI: 0.3-0.5), percentage of burn regarding body surface (BBS) OR=0.9(95% CI: 0.93-0.94),degree of burns OR=0.9(95% CI: 0.89-0.98). Conclusion: The results of our study revealed a high incidence of burns among >20 years old. Implement prevention programs should be designed for focusing chiefly on the domestic environment and the kinds of risks to which children are exposed in their everyday routine and parents, should also be educated about how to supply entertainment that would keep children away from risks.